Some agriculture experts have advised farmers to adopt preventive measures to minimise crop losses during flooding.
The experts gave the advice in separate interviews with reporters on Tuesday in Lagos.
The Acting Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Sakin Agbayewa, urged farmers to cultivate crops on raised beds and construct drainage channels, ditches, and ridges to reduce the impact of flooding.
“To prevent crop losses during the rainy season, farmers should construct drainage channels to redirect excess water away from their farms,” he said.
“They should also plant crops on raised beds to keep roots above waterlogged soil and apply organic mulch to minimise soil erosion. Drainage channels, including ditches and furrows, should be created to safely divert runoff into natural waterways.”
Agbayewa also recommended that farmers in flood-prone areas cultivate flood-tolerant or early-maturing crop varieties such as maize, cassava, and rice that mature before the peak of the rainy season.
Agriculture analyst Mr Omotunde Banjoko urged farmers to carefully assess the topography of their farmlands before cultivation.
He advised farmers to avoid low-lying areas where floodwater naturally collects and instead plant crops on higher ground.
“Farmers generally know the direction of water flow around their farms. Those cultivating flood-prone locations should consider relocating to upland areas during the rainy season,” Banjoko said.
Where relocation is not possible, he said farmers could erect barriers using sandbags or stones along farm boundaries to reduce floodwater intrusion.
“Most importantly, farmers should pay close attention to the location of their farms, as this remains one of the most effective ways to minimise flood losses,” he added.
