By Muhammed Salihu Maigoro
The usually lush rice farms of Taraba State, Nigeria, now wither and fade, victims of a cruel twist of nature. The annual flooding of River Benue and its tributaries, essential for rice cultivation, has failed to materialise.
Eng Bara’u Mahdi, a farmer from Bantaje, surveys his parched land, adding “The river’s failure to flood has killed our crops,” he says, despair etched on his face. “Our livelihoods are at stake.”
Mahdi’s plight resonates across affected communities: Bantaje ward, Gindi Doruwa, Jibu ward, Gashaka Local Government Area, and surrounding villages. For generations, farmers have relied on River Donga’s flooding to rejuvenate the soil.
This year’s drought has brought devastation. “We’ve never seen anything like this,” say local farmers. “We’ve invested everything, and now the river’s failure to flood has left us with nothing.”
Experts point to climate change, deforestation, and upstream damming as culprits. “These factors disrupt rainfall patterns and river flows,” they explain.
As farmers struggle to adapt, irrigation experts offer solutions. “Adopt irrigation systems and limit wet-season farming,” they advise.
But for now, Taraba State’s rice farmers face an uncertain future, their hopes tied to the river’s unpredictable flow.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that the story highlights the vulnerability of agricultural communities to environmental changes, underscoring the need for sustainable farming practices and climate resilience measures.
