1 min
In my many years of working with farmers, I had never experienced rainfall on a New Year’s Day in Nigeria, until now. There was no clear forecast, no strong signal that it would happen, yet it did. That moment reminds us that the climate we once depended on has changed and it will no longer wait for us to adjust at our own pace.
Over time, I have seen how unpredictable weather disrupts our food systems as crops planted with hope are washed away by unexpected rains or stressed by sudden dry spells. Resources are invested, labor is committed, yet yields fall short. These outcomes are symptoms of a changing environment that no longer responds to old assumptions and it calls for change in practices.
Therefore, we must begin to face the truth: farming can no longer depend on experience alone. As farmers, we should expect more uncertainty in rainfall patterns, longer dry spells, sudden floods, rising temperatures and increased pressure from pests and diseases. This reality demands that we strengthen early warning and response systems at the grassroots. Weather information must be treated as an input, just like seed. Farmer groups, cooperatives and extension services must work together to share timely forecasts and practical guidance such as field observations and rainfall tracking. These activities can help farmers detect early signals and act before losses occur.
In addition, water management issues can no longer be ignored. Relying solely on rain-fed agriculture has become a major risk. Thus, irrigation must become a normal part of farming. Small-scale and affordable irrigation systems can help farmers stabilize production, manage dry spells and give farmers more control over their seasons. However, irrigation requires investment and many farmers are constrained by limited capital. Therefore, farmers must organize themselves through cooperatives to access credit, grants and government-supported programs. Also, partnerships with NGOs, financial institutions and off-takers can help spread risks and reduce costs.
In conclusion, productivity in this new year will not come by chance. It will come from informed farmers, deliberate planning, early response to warning signs and responsible investment in water and climate-smart practices. Just as compromised farmers produce compromised food, unprepared farmers produce compromised harvests. The future of our farms depends on how well we adapt today. The question before us is simple but urgent: will we continue to farm with yesterday’s certainty or will we prepare for today’s reality? As we have stepped into this new year, I wish you clarity in decision making, strength in execution, and resilience in the face of uncertainty.
Happy New Year to you and your families.
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
Therefore, we must begin to face the truth: farming can no longer depend on experience alone. As farmers, we should expect more uncertainty in rainfall patterns, longer dry spells, sudden floods, rising temperatures and increased pressure from pests and diseases. This reality demands that we strengthen early warning and response systems at the grassroots. Weather information must be treated as an input, just like seed. Farmer groups, cooperatives and extension services must work together to share timely forecasts and practical guidance such as field observations and rainfall tracking. These activities can help farmers detect early signals and act before losses occur.
In addition, water management issues can no longer be ignored. Relying solely on rain-fed agriculture has become a major risk. Thus, irrigation must become a normal part of farming. Small-scale and affordable irrigation systems can help farmers stabilize production, manage dry spells and give farmers more control over their seasons. However, irrigation requires investment and many farmers are constrained by limited capital. Therefore, farmers must organize themselves through cooperatives to access credit, grants and government-supported programs. Also, partnerships with NGOs, financial institutions and off-takers can help spread risks and reduce costs.
In conclusion, productivity in this new year will not come by chance. It will come from informed farmers, deliberate planning, early response to warning signs and responsible investment in water and climate-smart practices. Just as compromised farmers produce compromised food, unprepared farmers produce compromised harvests. The future of our farms depends on how well we adapt today. The question before us is simple but urgent: will we continue to farm with yesterday’s certainty or will we prepare for today’s reality? As we have stepped into this new year, I wish you clarity in decision making, strength in execution, and resilience in the face of uncertainty.
Happy New Year to you and your families.
Yours-in-Service
Babatunde
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