The murder of farmers and uncertainty of climate change are having a devasting effect on the agriculture and economic sectors, pushing the price of food even higher.

The month is not even over and at least 165 people have been killed by insurgents and bandits in Nigeria’s northern region in March 2024.

The killings took place mostly in the Benue, Sokoto, Niger, Plateau and Borno states, according to an investigation by Punch.

The total does not include three farmers, who were clearing their lands in the Damboa district of Borno State when they were brutally murdered by members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), reported earlier this month by RNI.

Farmers are easy targets – and more so now when most farmers have begun preparing their lands for this year’s rainy season – the best time to plant seedlings.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in its 2024 Seasonal Climate Prediction, said Borno State would experience an early onset of rain this year.

But many farmers are afraid to tend to their lands because of the escalation of attacks, particularly in remote agricultural areas.

Once on their lands, they are soft targets and security analysts say the fear is driving farmers off their lands, resulting in lower production.

Kachalla Grema Kyari, a security analyst, told RNI that attacks on farmers were a major concern because they were having a negative effect on Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

“If food production goes down, prices, which are already high, go up – and that affects everyone, particularly the poor and indigent.

“It is imperative that the government puts in place all necessary security measures to ensure the protection of farmers’ lives, particularly now when most farmers across the country have started making preparations for seasonal cultivation. Most are clearing their farmlands so that they can begin planting seedlings.”

Modu Aji Shugaba, a food security expert, told RNI that the spate of attacks on farmers had already exacerbated food insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in Borno, Benue, Taraba and Sokoto.

He said armed conflicts with bandits and attacks by Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’way Wa’l-Jihād (JAS), better known as Boko Haram, and ISWAP insurgents on farmers were a major threat to food security.

“This has serious implications because insufficient food production results in price hikes, which the poor and indigent cannot afford. Already there are numerous people in Nigeria who are going hungry.

“It is imperative for both the federal and Borno State governments to take stringent measures to address the issue of insecurity affecting farmers because that is the only way to ensure food sufficiency.”

Shettima Mala, a farmer from the Fariya agrarian community in the Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, told RNI that he had been farming most of his life.

“Over the years, the climate has changed and it has had a major influence on our farming. Some years we have early rainfall and in others years the rain has come much later. Some years we have a drought with very little to no rain. It has taught us to take the weather seriously and we constantly monitor and observe climate patterns so that we can prepare our lands timeously for seasonal farming.

“Climate change has influenced the way we farm. But the fluctuations make it difficult to know when the time is right to prepare the land and plant seedlings. If you begin too early and the rain does not come, you’re in trouble. If you wait and the rains come early, you’re in trouble.

“That’s why it is important for us farmers to consult agricultural experts before taking any decisions. But many smallholder farmers don’t believe in scientific findings.”

Malam Isa Kumshe, a senior lecturer at the Mohammet Lawan College of Agriculture, in Maiduguri told RNI that there was a strong relationship between weather and farming, both seasonal and irrigation.

“Weather patterns constitute temperature, rainfall, the harmattan [a season in West Africa that occurs between the end of November and the middle of March, characterised by dry and dusty winds], winter and summer. All of these weather conditions affect farming activities.

“Both late and early onset of the rainy season can have a negative effect on farming. And climate change has become a grave concern.

“In Borno State we experience mixed weather conditions; sometimes it is very cloudy, sometimes the temperature is very high and sometimes the atmosphere is very cool or chilly.

“The amount and frequency of rainfall during these mixed weather conditions are critical for farmers. It is difficult for them to know whether to plant seedlings earlier or later in the season.

“Erratic rainfall means farmers face the risk of a dry period which might cause poor germination or the seedlings could die.”

Kumshe said that if there was too much rain at the start of the season, farmers might have to delay planting seedlings which could result in delayed harvesting.

“Excessive rain can damage the soil, removing vital nutrients that help plants to grow. Too much water can result in fungus and mould in the soil, which can kill crops.

“Both low and high rainfall have disadvantages and early or late onset of rain can have a negative or positive effect on farming.

“That is why we advise farmers to use improved varieties of seeds, such as drought-resistant seeds. Farmers should observe weather patterns carefully before they start planting seedlings. Farmers rely on good, steady weather but, with climate change, there is no certainty. It’s often a matter of luck. There’s no guarantee.”

Modu Kawo Shettima Dalatu, the recently retired director of Borno State’s ministry of agriculture, said: “The state government has employed qualified extension agents who can train, educate and enlighten farmers on climate change. They will be sent to rural areas, in particular, to help and advise farmers. It is hoped this intervention will ensure adequate food production and food security in the state.

“The government wants to support farmers as much as possible. Food security is an important issue. It’s not simply a matter of people having enough food to eat, it also affects the economy. High food prices affect everyone, particularly the poor. If farmers have big harvests, the prices will go down.”

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO