By (Guest Writer) Elizabeth Ameh

MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA – Farmers in Maiduguri Metropolitan and Jere local government areas of Borno State are expressing concern over the shortage of rainfall they’re experiencing, fearing it will drastically affect their crop yield this year.

August ordinarily brings heavy rainfall to this region, often referred to as “cat and dog rain.” Still, the last two months (June and July) have experienced a significant decrease in rainfall. This change in the weather pattern has left residents, especially farmers, with uncertainties and fears for the agricultural season.

Despite the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) 2023 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) forecasting the onset of rainfall for Borno State in June or July, the reality on the ground has been different. With scant rain, crops are wilting and dying, forcing some farmers to water their fields regularly.

In response to the crisis, the Borno State Emirate Council and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Borno Chapter mobilized their members in July to offer special prayers for abundant rain. Farmers across Jere and Maiduguri echoed these sentiments in interviews, expressing their worries.

“Honestly, there has been a lack of rain. A lot of our crops have spoiled,” said Daniel Birma, a farmer at inathe University of Maiduguri. “We still have seeds to plant, but there’s no rain. Even those we’ve already planted are drying up.”

Farmland in Maiduguri. Photo credit: Elizabeth Ameh

Farmers like Hannatu Yohanna and Elizabeth Haruna in the Jere axis are praying earnestly for rain, describing their situation as a “serious problem” and “serious suffering.”

In Jere, Haruna reported that some people had gone for days without cooking due to the lack of food.

Dr. Alhaji Muktar, a lecturer in the Department of Geography at the University of Maiduguri, suggests that the 2023 rainfall shortage might align with a prediction by German Meteorologist Alfred Wegener. Wegener theorized a 30-year recurrence in weather patterns, which might explain the current dry spell.

“If we cast our minds back to 1993 or 1983, a similar scenario was witnessed,” Dr. Muktar explained. “This time around, because of what Wegener predicted, maybe we are experiencing a repeat of the past.”

Dr. Muktar noted that the lack of rain could lead to severe crop failure, particularly for crops that can’t withstand prolonged periods without moisture. He advised farmers to consider planting crops that require less moisture, like legumes, and to anticipate related issues, such as high temperatures and humidity.

However, on August 2nd, 2023, Maiduguri experienced a heavy downpour, giving farmers a glimmer of hope for the remaining growing season. As they continue to pray and adapt to the changing weather patterns, farmers are hopeful that more rainy days will come to salvage this year’s harvest.