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When Ms Akpelu Celin cultivates cassava during the current planting season, she looks forward to months of hard work that will end in a fruitful harvest. Like many farmers in the host community of the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (UAES), Umuagwo, Imo State, he invested his savings in land preparation, labor and planting materials, in the hope of a productive season.
Then the rain came. It is not heavy rains that farmers depend on, but continuous heavy rains that turn their agricultural land into flood plains. Within days, most of his newly planted cassava was submerged, costing him weeks of effort and investment.
While recounting his bitter experience, he said: “The experience was very painful. After planting, heavy rain caused major flooding on my agricultural land. Many of the cassava stalks I planted were submerged and destroyed. I lost money for land preparation, labor and planting materials.
“I was hoping for a good harvest that would help me support my family, but the flood changed everything. Climate change makes farming even more difficult because we no longer know what to expect from the weather.”
Celin’s experience was one of the many stories shared during the Agriculture-Climate Reporting engagement held with the support of the Center 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, lecturer at UAES.
In the host communities of Umuagwo, Umuapu and Mgbirichi, farmers described how unpredictable weather disrupted agricultural activities. While some struggle with destructive floods, others struggle with prolonged dry seasons, extremely hot temperatures, pest attacks and declining crop yields.
For these farmers, climate change is no longer an abstract concept. This is measured by flooded land, crop failure, increased production costs, and shrinking income.
Among those who shared their experiences was Mrs Agugwo Chioma, a cucumber farmer, who narrated how excessive rainfall destroyed most of her crops.
“Excessive rainfall and flooding have had a detrimental impact on my cucumber farming,” he said. “Water pooled on the agricultural land for several days and damaged many crops. Some plants died, some were attacked by disease because of the wet conditions. The harvest was far below my expectations. As farmers, we depend on agriculture for income, and when the flood destroyed our crops, it was our family who suffered the consequences,” he said.
For Mr. Calistus Paul, a banana and plantain farmer, the challenge comes from the opposite direction. “Even though some farmers have difficulty dealing with excessive rainfall, my challenge is the prolonged dry season in the dry season,” he explained.
“The rain stopped when the banana and plantain plants needed moisture the most. The plants became stressed, growth was poor and yields decreased significantly. Due to low yields, my income fell and it became difficult to meet business and family responsibilities. These changes in weather conditions affected our livelihood and made farming more uncertain.”
As farmers exchanged experiences, a common concern emerged: weather patterns that once guided planting decisions were becoming increasingly unreliable.
However, the meeting was not characterized by despair. In addition to sharing experiences, participants discussed practical ways to respond to challenges related to climate change.
Farmers, researchers and development practitioners exchanged ideas on better weather information, climate-smart agricultural practices, better drainage systems, crop diversification, improved crop varieties and stronger agricultural extension services.
The impact of this engagement was clear in the responses of many participants. A cassava and yam farmer, Mr Osundu Anudokum, said the program has equipped him with practical knowledge that will help him manage the impact of irregular rainfall on his farm.
He expressed optimism that the farming techniques and climate adaptation practices shared during the meeting will enable him to make better decisions in times of little or no rainfall. According to him, applying the knowledge gained will increase agricultural productivity, increase his income and ultimately improve his family’s standard of living.
Ms Ihenatu Priscly also described the program as timely, and stated that it reflects the University’s commitment to fulfilling its mandate as a University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. He expressed his appreciation to the Center for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Abuja, and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chiedozie Christopher Eze, who brings this training directly to host communities and makes it accessible to farmers in their communities, especially at a time when they need such knowledge and support most. He said the knowledge gained had renewed his confidence ahead of the next planting season, and he expressed hope that implementing recommended farming practices would result in better harvests and increased food security for his household.
Offering an expert perspective, Acting Dean of UAE Faculty of Agriculture, Dr. (Mrs) Chizoma Osuagwu, said building resilience among farmers requires sustainable access to knowledge, innovation and extension support.
He noted that climate change is redefining agricultural production across Nigeria, stressing that farmers must adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, better crop management techniques and timely weather information to reduce production risks and sustain food production.
Osuagwu added that partnerships involving universities, government agencies, development organizations and local communities remain critical to translating research into practical solutions that improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Providing another expert perspective, an agricultural extension officer, Ms Nneka Stella, said that climate change requires farmers to rethink traditional farming practices and implement innovations that increase resilience.
He explained that many losses experienced by farmers were not only due to changes in weather patterns but also limited access to timely agricultural information and extension services. According to him, regular farmer training, access to reliable weather forecasts, and the implementation of climate-smart agricultural practices can significantly reduce production risks and improve agricultural performance.
Nneka urged farmers to utilize the knowledge gained during these activities by adopting better planting methods, practicing crop diversification, maintaining soil moisture during the dry season, and responding promptly to weather warnings. He noted that extension workers will continue to work closely with farming communities to ensure that modern agricultural innovations reach farmers at the grassroots.
“The real impact of a program like this lies in what farmers do after the training,” he said. “When the knowledge shared here is applied, farmers will be better prepared to deal with extreme weather conditions, achieve more stable crop yields, increase household incomes, and strengthen food security in their communities.”
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chiedozie Christopher Eze, welcomed the collaboration between the University and CJID, and described it as evidence of the University’s commitment to meaningful community engagement and sustainable development.
He reiterated the University’s commitment to improving agricultural output and the environment across the host communities, Imo State and Nigeria through research, innovation, training and dissemination of modern agricultural technologies.
According to him, equipping farmers with practical knowledge and evidence-based innovation is critical to increasing productivity, strengthening rural livelihoods and building more resilient farming communities. He noted that the University will continue to use its expertise and resources to ensure that the benefits of its research and training reach not only the campus but also the communities it serves.
The Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, Chief Eze Charles Ezeokwubudu, expressed his appreciation to the Deputy Chancellor, University Management and CJID for bringing this program directly to the community.
“We are grateful that our farming community was given the opportunity to speak out about the challenges they face due to climate change. This engagement has given our community hope and confidence that their voices are being heard. We look forward to more collaborations and programs that will improve agriculture, strengthen livelihoods, and encourage sustainable development in our communities.”
By: Esiobu Nnaemeka Success
