Nigeria: As food inflation soars, dry season farmers count woes

Mustapha Lawal has been involved in dry season farming for over a decade during which he has mostly faced the same challenges: insufficient water, lack of support from government and ever rising prices of pesticides, fertiliser and seeds. This year, his main problem is water. He has prepared his farmland, bought seeds and fertiliser but officials at the Jibia dam in Katsina State have not released water to enable dry season farmers start working. “We have waited for over a month now for the water but as you can see, there is nothing,” the middle-aged Mr Lawal said. “If they don’t give us water in the next few days, we will not be participating in this year’s dry season farming because it will be late by then.” But insecurity has also been a major challenge for the farmers. According to Muhammad Marzuku, a farmer, banditry is crippling the sector in Katsina State. Farmers engage in dry season farming, which depends on irrigation, to complement their produce from the rainy season ...