Farmers Urged to Prepare for Heavy Rain in Nigeria

Micheal Al, founder of a global initiative for Nigeria's development, issued a statement in Ibadan, Oyo State, advising farmers to prepare for heavy rains and to refrain from rushing into full-scale planting despite recent rainfall. He noted that the current rains are part of a broader irregular rainfall pattern and do not guarantee sustained rainfall necessary for optimal agricultural yield.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency had previously warned farmers against early planting due to the deceptive nature of the rains experienced in February and early March 2026, which do not mark the official start of the rainy season and pose risks of crop failure due to potential drought. Al linked these irregular patterns to global climate disruptions and urged farmers to adopt climate-smart practices, including delayed planting and close monitoring of weather forecasts, to mitigate potential losses.

He highlighted that smallholder farmers, particularly women in rural areas, remain vulnerable to erratic rainfall, which limits access to farms and worsens food security challenges.