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Irregular rainfall in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, is threatening crop cultivation and forcing farmers to delay planting water-intensive crops over fears of poor harvests.
The farmers, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the inconsistent rainfall has become a major challenge to farming, with some already witnessing signs of crop stress after planting in anticipation of steady rains.
One of the farmers, Ayuba Sadisu, described the erratic rainfall pattern as a serious setback, noting that many farmers planted their crops expecting the rains to continue.
“Many of us have already planted, yet there is not enough moisture to nourish the crops. In my case, the millet has already begun to wilt.
“At times, clouds gather but produce only light showers, leaving little or no moisture for the crops.
“We can only pray that God gives us steady and beneficial rains,” he said.
Another farmer, Yahaya Haruna, said the unreliable rainfall posed a significant threat to smallholder farmers who depend almost entirely on rain-fed agriculture.
“I intended to cultivate rice, but I decided to wait because the rainy season has not fully stabilised, and the crop requires a high volume of rainfall,” he said.
A farm labourer and ox-ploughing service provider, Salihu Auwalu, said the erratic weather had slowed farming activities across the area.
“Many farmers usually engage my services to prepare their rice fields, but most of them have suspended the work because they are waiting for the rains to become consistent before cultivating their farmlands.
“Without adequate rainfall, crops are at risk of withering before they become properly established,” he said.
An agricultural expert, Hussaini Tukur, warned that irregular rainfall at the onset of the rainy season could affect seed germination, reduce crop establishment and delay planting, particularly for water-intensive crops such as rice.
He advised farmers to follow weather forecasts issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and adopt climate-smart farming practices to minimise potential losses.
“Farmers should avoid rushing to plant immediately after the first rainfall. They should ensure the rainy season is fully established, cultivate drought-tolerant or early-maturing crop varieties, and seek guidance from agricultural extension officers,” he said.
