As a committee member, Bala Usman spearheaded the community-driven construction of the dike. Now, he can cultivate his crops without the threat of flooding during the rainy season. ©FAO/Nigeria

Yola, Adamawa State - For years, residents of rainfed farming communities in northeastern Nigeria have suffered devastating losses due to recurrent flooding, with extensive damage to cropland, livestock, homes and infrastructure. The threat of floods over their livelihoods has forced families to seek refuge in neighbouring communities until the rainy season subsides. Flooding in Adamawa state is especially severe in communities bordering the Niger and Benue Rivers as heavy rainfall often leads to river overflow and dam releases, resulting in significant damage and loss of life. In 2023, forecasts of the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency indicated high flood risks across many local government areas (LGAs) in Yobe and Adamawa states, leaving the local communities on high alert.

Bala Usman, a 56-year-old rice farmer from Dasin Hausa village in the Fufore LGA of Adamawa, knows this struggle all too well. As a person with a disability and an active member of his community association, where he serves as secretary, Bala has often considered abandoning farming altogether due to the impacts of flooding. However, with the recent support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), there is now a glimmer of hope.

To address this persistent threat, FAO implemented an Anticipatory Action project thanks to generous funding from the Government of Germany of USD 3 million. The initiative aimed at protecting the livelihoods and enhancing the resilience of communities in flood-prone areas. Six LGAs in Yobe (Bade, Karasuwa, Jakusko) and Adamawa (Fufore, Demsa, and Yola South) states were selected based on flood risk forecasts. A total of 5 600 households, including over 2 200 headed by women, were registered across 18 communities in both states to benefit from project activities. To ensure transparency and fair representation, committees were formed in each community, including women and youth community leaders, representatives of people with disabilities and clergy members. These committees played a crucial role in the selection of project participants and helped promote community involvement in the initiative.

FAO’s interventions included early warning message dissemination, dike construction, gutter cleaning, and the timely distribution of agricultural inputs to 3 600 households and of livestock feed to 2 000 households. Farmers in Dasin Hausa now expect greater yields. Overall, the project has contributed to strengthening communities’ resilience against future flooding events, preventing significant losses of productive assets and safeguarding their livelihoods. “Before receiving support from FAO, we didn’t know how to work together to control the floods that erode our soil. But now, we have received trainings on what materials to use”, Bala shared.

Guided by FAO technical experts, community members have strengthened their capacity to protect crops and livestock, as well as to recover their livelihoods following floods. Through its participatory approach, the project has successfully disseminated early warning information to all participating households, as well as indirectly to an additional 4 400 households through capacity building during town meeting sessions. These sessions served as a medium to disseminate early warning messages widely. Moreover, inputs were distributed, and dikes were built in 16 target communities. Each participant received two kits: Kit 1 for crops, which included 15 kg of cowpea, a 25 kg bag of NPK, and two PICs bags; and Kit 2 for livestock, which comprised two 25 kg bags of cowpea husk, two 25 kg bags of groundnut hay, and 2 kg of mineral licks. The project participants' capacity was built through town meetings and early warning information on flood risk, along with protection from dike construction.

Shetu Amadu, village head of Dasin Hausa said, “Previously, our village was regularly inundated by floods, which destroyed our farmlands and disrupted our lives. We were unable to stay here during the flood season as everything would be covered by water, causing immense hardship. The floods severely disrupted food supply and income, discouraging many farmers. Our women and children suffered most as our men returned home empty-handed.”

Bala remembers a time when hope seemed lost. The community feared that floods would exacerbate hunger and force them to abandon their homes, leading to the loss of crops. “This year, we were planning to pack our belongings to the neighbouring community to be safe from the floods. Thanks to the support received from FAO, our farmers can produce more to provide for our families”, he said. Now, Bala and his community look forward to a brighter future. “We will sell some of the farm produce in the market to cover school fees for our children. We will store the rest of the yields in preparation for the dry season”, he added.

Through the collaborative efforts of FAO and the local community, Adamawa’s farmers are learning how to adapt and thrive, even in the face of climate-related challenges. They are turning the tide on flooding and building a better future for themselves and their families.

Related link

https://www.fao.org/nigeria/news/detail-events/en/c/1679482/ 

Contact for more information

David Karls Tsokar                                              Chukwuka Kelvin Nwachukwu

Communication Specialist                                Communication and Reporting Specialist

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