Climate change is a crucial factor in agricultural production in Nigeria. It has significant effects on the environment and soil, significantly impacting food production.
As climate change brings hotter temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and more frequent droughts, Nigerian farmers must reconsider what they plant. Climate-resilient crops and crop varieties have been recommended as a means for farmers to cope with or adapt to climate change; however, despite the apparent benefits, adoption rates among smallholder farmers are highly variable.
Choosing climate-resilient crops is crucial for maintaining stable yields and ensuring food security. These crops can withstand extreme weather, provide food security, and mitigate the risk of crop failure. This article examines climate-resilient crops for Nigerian farmers with guides on cultivating and managing them.
Climate-resilient crops are plant varieties specifically bred or selected to withstand harsh environmental stresses such as drought, high temperatures, flooding, low soil fertility and pests that are becoming more common due to climate change.
Climate-resilient crops offer hope in the face of climate challenges, which threaten crop production and food security. Food security is a pressing global challenge, with the United Nations estimating that nearly 9.2% of the world’s population, or roughly 690 million people, suffered from chronic hunger in 2019.
Traditional crop varieties are particularly vulnerable to these climate-induced disruptions. Staple crops, such as rice, wheat, and maize, which provide the majority of the world’s calories, are facing decreased yields due to rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns.
The importance of climate-resilient crops in food security cannot be overstated. With the global population projected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, innovative agricultural solutions are essential for meeting the increasing demand for food while addressing the challenges posed by a changing climate.
Climate-resilient crops represent a critical tool in this ongoing problem caused by climate change, offering the potential to ensure a stable and secure food supply for generations to come. As the effects of climate change intensify, switching to these crops can help reduce losses in agriculture and ensure food security.
Here are some climate-resilient crops Nigerian farmers should consider:
1. Sorghum: Sorghum is a cereal grain plant from the Poaceae family. Scientifically known as Sorghum bicolour, sorghum is a popular staple food in many parts of the world, including Nigeria and Africa. It is drought-tolerant and thrives in increased heat and low rainfall. It can be used for porridge, bread, livestock feed
Sorghum is ideal for dryland farming and is more heat-tolerant than maize.
2. Millet: Millet survives arid/semi-arid zones, it matures quickly with minimal water needed, it can be used to make pap, tuwo, couscous, beer, etc. Millet has been cultivated in Nigeria for centuries and is both nutritious and resilient. It can be intercropped with legumes for improved soil health.
3. Cassava: Cassava is a survival crop; in dry years, it produces roots that can feed families. It tolerates poor soils and irregular rainfall. It can be used to make garri, fufu, and flour.
4. Cowpea: Cowpea has a short growing season and can be intercropped with maize or millet. With little water, it grows quickly and enriches soil with nitrogen. Cowpea is one of Nigeria’s most important legumes. It supports healthy diets and can be harvested in just a few months.
5. Groundnut: Groundnut is both a food and a cash crop. It also fixes nitrogen in the soil and complements well with sorghum or millet in rotation. Groundnut can be grown in sandy soils and is drought-tolerant; it also tolerates heat and light rainfall.
6. Yam: Yam is a root crop that is relatively drought-tolerant and can be grown in areas with limited access to irrigation. Yams can be sold as fresh or dried roots or processed into flour and chips. Yam adapts well to changing rainfall when planted and stored correctly.
To get the most out of climate-resilient crops, farmers should follow good agronomic practices such as:
Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, highlights the transformative potential of recently released biofortified hybrid pearl millet varieties tailored for Nigeria’s drylands by ICRISAT.
He states that “These hybrids offer a powerful combination of nutrition and resilience, tailored to the needs of Nigeria’s drylands. As climate change intensifies and micronutrient deficiencies persist as major public health challenges, these pearl millet hybrids offer hope, improved health, and a sustainable future for smallholder farmers.”
Dr. Pathak highlights the importance of climate-resilient crop innovations such as drought-tolerant, nutrient-rich millets as critical tools for Nigerian farmers facing hotter, drier conditions. By combining enhanced nutrition with adaptability to harsh climates, such crops secure food production and address malnutrition, a challenge in many Nigerian communities.
Farmers can access improved seeds and climate-smart resources through IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture). Similarly, improved cassava, cowpea, and yam varieties can be assessed from ICRISAT or through local seed suppliers.
Nigerian farmers must switch to climate-resilient crops in the face of climate change. This is because it is one of the decisions farmers can make to safeguard their harvest, income, and communities.
