From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Worried by the effects of climate on agriculture in the Benue Valley, Civil Organizations Research Advocacy and Funding Initiatives Development, (CORAFID), through its research center, CORAFID Center for Innovation and Research Ltd, has held a one day panel discussion calling for a multi sectoral approach to tackling the issues and improving agriculture in the area.
The discussion was held on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, with the theme, ” The Agricultural Conundrum in the Benue Valley and the Impact of Climate Change.” Panelists included Mr. Nathaniel Awuapila, President of Society for Peace Studies and Practice, (SPSP), Dr. Edward Amali -Director Livestock Services in the Benue state ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Abara Ekeoma of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. Others were, Prof. David Ikoni and Dr. Mwuese Mnyim of the Benue State University, (BSU), Makurdi and the Managing Director, Sub Saharan Africa, African Chamber of Commerce and CEO Tembekasua, Engr. Jiraji Tersoo.
Speaking during the discussion, the President of SPSP, Nathaniel Awuapila, who noted that while Nigeria was losing about 350,000 hectares of arable land to climate change yearly, by 2020, the country had lost over 45 percent of its arable land.
He also noted that Benue which is the food basket of the nation, has, since the past 13 years, faced annual herders/farmers crisis resulting into deaths, displacements of farmers, loss of farm lands, less food production among others, loss of food due to post harvest losses saying if nothing was done to arrest the situation, food insecurity and malnutrition will set in.
In his contributions, a Professor of Environmental Law at the Benue state University, BSU, Makurdi, David Ikoni, who noted that Benue state feels the highest impact of climate said while land is drying up in the North, the Benue valley is also drying and while people troop in from Niger, Mali and other places to enjoy from the fertility of the soil, it puts a strain on agriculture.
Ikoni said public private interest in agriculture should be encouraged and scaled up while the government should strengthen researchers in agriculture for innovative ways of addressing climate change to help farmers survive the challenges of climate change and produce more quality food.
He also advocated for transforming herders farmers crisis through inter agency collaboration saying all hands must be on deck to solve the issues.
Also speaking, one of the panelists, Mrs Mwuese Mnyim, stated that climate change which affects everyone, affects women and girls differently especially in their health, feeding, livelihood and security.
Mnyim who noted that over 80 percent of manpower in agriculture in Benue state were women lamented that several cultural practices such as inheritance, has affected the women in agriculture and limiting their access to land.
“We would love to see interventions specific to women and girls and legislations that not only address these cultural practices that affect women and girl but gender legislations that give rights to girls and women to lands,” she said.
The panelist, including Edward Amali -Director Livestock Services in the Benue state ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Abara Ekeoma of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, unanimously, suggested that as a way forward in tackling climate change, there should be more commitment to irrigation and dry season farming, planting of more trees, discouraging deforestation and bush burning, education and sensitization of farmers, development of strategies for mitigation and early earning signs among others.
Speaking to newsmen, the administrator of CORAFID, Barr Joseph Gbagyo said the organization is providing a road map for government in this region to begin to put in place strategies to tackle the effects of climate change by encouraging smart agriculture which has been neglected, discouraging administrative bottlenecks and ensure adequate policy implementation.
While noting that the effects of climate change cannot be overemphasized, Gbagyo said it is affecting agriculture, animal husbandry among other aspects of agriculture saying CORAFID will not rest on our oars until issues of climate change is given adequate attention by relevant stakeholders not only in the state but in the country as a whole.
“As an organization, we are happy to steer this kind of conversation. It is expected that at the end of this discussion, advocacy and sensitization on climate change issues will be increase, inter agency and ministry partnership and collaboration will be formed and enhance for improved agricultural practices in the Benue valley,” he added.