When Mrs. Akpelu Celin cultivated cassava in the current planting season, she looked forward to months of hard work ending in a rewarding harvest. Like many farmers in the host communities of the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES), Umuagwo, Imo State, she had invested her savings in land preparation, labour and planting materials, hoping for a productive season.
Then the rains came. Not the gentle showers farmers depend on, but relentless downpours that turned her farmland into a floodplain. Within days, much of her newly planted cassava had been submerged, wiping out weeks of effort and investment.
While recounting her bitter experience, she said: “The experience was very painful. After planting, heavy rainfall caused serious flooding on my farm. Many of the cassava stems I planted were submerged and destroyed. I lost money spent on land preparation, labour and planting materials.
“I was expecting a good harvest that would help me take care of my family, but the flood changed everything. Climate change is making farming more difficult because we no longer know what to expect from the weather.”
Celin’s experience is one of the many stories shared during a Climate-Agriculture Reporting engagement organised with the support of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Abuja, in collaboration with the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES), Umuagwo.
The engagement, which brought together farmers from the University’s host communities, was led by Dr. Esiobu Nnaemeka Success, a lecturer at UAES.
Across Umuagwo, Umuapu and Mgbirichi host communities, farmers described how unpredictable weather disrupted farming activities. While some battled with destructive floods, others struggled with prolonged dry spells, scorching temperatures, pest attacks and declining harvests.
For these farmers, climate change is no longer an abstract concept. It is measured in flooded fields, failed crops, rising production costs and shrinking incomes.
Among those who shared their experiences was Mrs. Agugwo Chioma, a cucumber farmer, who recounted how excessive rainfall destroyed much of her crop.
“The excessive rainfall and flooding affected my cucumber farm badly,” she said. “The water remained on the farm for several days and damaged many of the plants. Some of the crops died while others were attacked by diseases because of the wet conditions. The harvest was far below what I expected. As farmers, we depend on our farms for income, and when floods destroy our crops, our families suffer the consequences”, she narrated.
For Mr. Calistus Paul, a banana and plantain farmer, the challenge came from the opposite direction. “While some farmers are struggling with too much rainfall, my challenge was the prolonged dry spell during the dry season,” he explained.
“The rains stopped when the banana and plantain plants needed moisture the most. The plants became stressed, growth was poor and the yield reduced significantly. Because of the low harvest, my income dropped and it became difficult to meet business and family responsibilities. These changing weather conditions are affecting our livelihoods and making farming increasingly uncertain.”
As farmers exchanged experiences, a common concern emerged: weather patterns that once guided planting decisions have become increasingly unreliable.
Yet, the meeting was not defined by despair. Beyond sharing their experiences, participants discussed practical ways of responding to climate-related challenges.
Farmers, researchers and development practitioners exchanged ideas on improved weather information, climate-smart farming practices, better drainage systems, crop diversification, improved crop varieties and stronger agricultural extension services.
The impact of the engagement was evident in the responses of many participants. A cassava and yam farmer, Mr. Osundu Anudokum, said the programme had equipped him with practical knowledge that would help him manage the effects of irregular rainfall on his farm.
He expressed optimism that the farming techniques and climate adaptation practices shared during the engagement would enable him make better decisions during periods of little or no rainfall. According to him, applying the knowledge gained would improve his farm productivity, increase his income and ultimately enhance his family’s standard of living.
Mrs. Ihenatu Priscly also described the programme as timely, noting that it reflected the University’s commitment to fulfilling its mandate as a University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. She expressed appreciation to the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Abuja, and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chiedozie Christopher Eze, for bringing the training directly to the host communities and making it accessible to farmers within their communities, particularly at a time when they needed such knowledge and support most. She said the knowledge acquired had renewed her confidence ahead of the next planting season, expressing hope that applying the recommended farming practices would lead to better harvests and improved food security for her household.
Offering an expert perspective, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, UAES, Dr. (Mrs) Chizoma Osuagwu, said building resilience among farmers required continuous access to knowledge, innovation and extension support.
She noted that climate change was redefining agricultural production across Nigeria, stressing that farmers must embrace climate-smart agricultural practices, improved crop management techniques and timely weather information to reduce production risks and sustain food production.
Osuagwu added that partnerships involving universities, government agencies, development organisations and local communities remain essential for translating research into practical solutions that improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Providing another expert perspective, an agricultural extension agent, Mrs. Nneka Stella, said climate change had made it necessary for farmers to rethink traditional farming practices and embrace innovations that improve resilience.
She explained that many of the losses experienced by farmers were not only the result of changing weather patterns but also of limited access to timely agricultural information and extension services. According to her, regular farmer training, access to reliable weather forecasts and the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices can significantly reduce production risks and improve farm performance.
Nneka urged farmers to make use of the knowledge gained during the engagement by adopting improved planting methods, practising crop diversification, conserving soil moisture during dry periods and responding promptly to weather advisories. She noted that extension agents would continue to work closely with farming communities to ensure that modern agricultural innovations reach farmers at the grassroots.
“The real impact of programmes like this lies in what farmers do after the training,” she said. “When the knowledge shared here is put into practice, farmers will be better prepared for extreme weather conditions, achieve more stable yields, improve household incomes and strengthen food security within their communities.”
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chiedozie Christopher Eze, welcomed the collaboration between the University and CJID, describing it as another demonstration of the University’s commitment to meaningful community engagement and sustainable development.
He reaffirmed the University’s commitment to improving agricultural and environmental outcomes across its host communities, Imo State and Nigeria through research, innovation, training and the dissemination of modern agricultural technologies.
According to him, equipping farmers with practical knowledge and evidence-based innovations was central to improving productivity, strengthening rural livelihoods and building more resilient farming communities. He noted that the University would continue to use its expertise and resources to ensure that the benefits of its research and training extend beyond the campus to the communities it serves.
Head of the Council of Chiefs, Chief Eze Charles Ezeokwubudu, expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor, the University Management and CJID for bringing the programme directly to the communities.
“We are grateful that our community farmers have been given the opportunity to speak about the challenges they face as a result of climate change. This engagement has given our people hope and confidence that their voices are being heard. We look forward to more collaborations and programmes that will improve agriculture, strengthen livelihoods and promote sustainable development in our communities.”
By: Esiobu Nnaemeka Success
(Ripples)