By Rwang Tengwong
Climate change is increasingly threatening Nigeria’s food security, as farmers across major agricultural zones struggle with rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and stronger winds that are reducing crop yields and incomes.
While the challenge has forced many farmers out of production, a green pepper farmer in Plateau State is showing that local solutions can help farmers adapt.
In Heipang District of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, 42-year-old Ayuba Yakubu, popularly known as AY Mai Pepper, has cultivated green pepper for more than 15 years.
A graduate of Urban and Regional Planning from Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi, Ayuba funded his education through farming and built two houses and acquired some properties around the Polytechnic’s off-campus area from the proceeds.
But about two years ago, climate change began to take a heavy toll on his farm.
Ayuba says unusual weather conditions, particularly strong winds between October and February, triggered new problems in his green pepper fields.
“The crops developed wrinkled leaves, stunted growth, and the fruits look like over ripe garden eggs though the inside is green. The fruits remain tiny and you can’t harvest and sell them. The leaves then begin to change colour from green to carton brown and the plant dries up with time. ” he said.
Despite applying fertilizers, insecticides, and other farm inputs, yields dropped sharply.
From an average of 50 to 80 bags per season, Ayuba’s harvest fell to just 10 to 15 bags in 2023. Across the area, many farmers abandoned green pepper farming altogether.
Although prices rose sharply due to scarcity, most farmers had little to benefit from the increase.
Rather than give up, Ayuba experimented with a solution rooted in local farming knowledge. Drawing from his earlier experience with cabbage production, he applied ash from firewood and burnt grasses to his ridges before transplanting and reapplied it eight weeks later, alongside fertilizer.
The result was a noticeable turnaround.
In 2024, his yield increased to between 25 and 35 bags. While the problem did not disappear completely, the improvement was enough to keep his farm productive.
Ayuba said “Areas where ash application was uneven still showed signs of stress. This means there is the need for proper application and further research on how ash can be used to address this.”
He states that ” some farmers say the reduce water application on that farm and it gave them something better than it used to be. But on my farm, I noticed that reducing water application as advised by some farmers did not work because the soil on my farm is sandy and does not retent water.”
He also warns that farmers who switched to other crops such as bell pepper, tomatoes, and onions are beginning to experience similar climate-related challenges.
An Agricultural Extension Worker, Mark Dalyop says Ayuba’s experience demonstrates how farmers can adapt to climate change by combining indigenous knowledge with modern practices.
Dalyop advised farmers to improve soil health with organic inputs and plant windbreaks to protect crops from strong winds.
He also encouraged farmers to explore greenhouse farming.
“Although many farmers consider it expensive, greenhouse farming offers controlled growing conditions, protects crops from harsh weather, improves yields, and allows year-round production.”
He says the initial investment is often recovered through higher productivity and stable income.