Farmers are calling on the Borno State government to intervene, saying the high cost of water, pesticides and other agricultural inputs – many of which have more than doubled – is forcing them to quit.

Water scarcity and the high cost of pesticides and other agricultural inputs are driving irrigation farmers in the Shawkari community of Borno State off their land.

They say their crops have dried up and they cannot afford to buy water because it costs at least ₦4,000 a day.

The spike in the cost of seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and equipment, such as tools and machinery, is adding to their woes.

Water shortage

After a bumper wet season harvest, irrigation farmers say that without urgent intervention they are looking at pretty much zero production – and they have called on the Borno State government for help.

Mele Usman, an irrigation farmer from Shawkari, which is in the Jere Local Government Area of Borno State in Nigeria’s northeast, said: “We normally start irrigation farming immediately after wrapping up seasonal farming activities. Our major source of supply is the Ngadda River, which flows into the Alau Dam.

“But the dam collapsed last year in September causing a devasting flood that engulfed Maiduguri and its environs.

“Now the dam is being repaired and this has resulted in blockages. The normally flowing river has shrunk. So now we are dealing with a shortage of water and it is affecting our farming. Our crops have dried up and most of us do not have the means to buy enough water to continue.”

The expense

“When the river is full, we use water pumps to irrigate our crops,” Mele Usman told Ndarason. “But now the water is very low and we are unable to run the pumps.

“To keep the farm going, I have to buy about 10 truckloads of water. Each load costs about ₦400. This means I have to spend at least ₦4,000 each day. It is costing me a fortune and I do not know how long I can continue.”

Irrigation farming is our livelihood

Farmer Isa Usman said: “Most of the residents of the agrarian Shawkari community depend on irrigation farming as a means of livelihood. If there is water in the river, we know we will always have a flourishing farm. We grow a variety of vegetables and fruits, such as tomatoes, onions, carrots, mangoes, peppers and cassava.

“We usually have a bumper harvest and we flood the markets in Maiduguri and its environs. The abundant harvest is not only good for us but also for customers because when we have a good harvest the price of vegetables and fruits comes down.

“People in Shawkari have been conducting irrigation farming for decades. Under normal circumstances it is a sustainable means of income. We are able to feed our families, pay our children’s school fees and take care of other responsibilities,” Isa Usman said.

High cost of agricultural inputs

Isa Usman told Ndarason that it was not just the high cost of water that was a challenge for irrigation farmers.

“The price of pesticides and other agricultural inputs has more than doubled. The chemicals we used to buy for ₦2, 000, now cost ₦7,000 or even ₦10,000.

“The prices have skyrocketed. Coupled with the shortage of water, these challenges are getting too much for irrigation farmers, many of whom are simply abandoning their land.

“I am sure more farmers will follow. I am one of them. I do not think I will be able to continue farming – it is just costing too much. I do not know how much longer I can go on,” Isa Usman said.

Alau Dam repairs

After heavy rains, the Alau Dam collapsed on September 10, 2024, resulting in a devastating flood that engulfed Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, and its environs.

Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced. Infrastructure was destroyed. Many people lost loved ones as well as their homes and shelters.

In February this year, the federal executive council approved ₦80 billion to reconstruct and rehabilitate the dam.

The repairs began in March.

Joseph Utsev, the minister of water resources and sanitation, said the project, which is expected to be completed within 24 months, will be carried out in two phases — the first will run from March to September and will cover the immediate intervention of flood risk in the state.

The second phase, which will begin in October until the completion of the reconstruction, will focus on extensive desilting and structural enhancement to ensure long-term functionality of the dam.

Shawkari community

Shawkari is an agrarian community in the Jere Local Government Area. It is a known for its irrigation farming and produces a wide variety of vegetables and fruits.

Shawkari is one of the main suppliers of produce to markets across Borno State, including the popular Gamboru vegetable market in Maiduguri.

Farmers say without government intervention they will be forced to quit which could affect food insecurity in the state.

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO