How Nigeria’s Food Landscape is Being Shaped by Climate Change
Dr. Enoch Adewunmi Oyeduntan
Nigerian cuisine and culture are being greatly impacted by climate change. Nigeria’s food environment is changing dramatically as a result of climate change, which will have a big impact on food security and nutrition alike. Rising temperatures, erratic rain patterns, and regular extreme weather events are all leading to a notable decline in agricultural productivity across the nation. Benue State, dubbed the “food basket of the nation” for its plentiful yam output, is seeing farmers there cut their output to previously unheard-of levels. Fruit production is declining in Fiditi, a well-known fruit-growing region in the Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, due to the unpredictability of the weather.
The main reasons for this are environmental degradation and climate change. Persistent droughts in northern areas, including Sokoto and Kano, have significantly reduced maize outputs. The production of maize has dropped precipitously. For millions of people, maize is a basic food. Crops of rice and cassava are also hampered by flooding and heavy rains in the south. Apart from these climatic swings, the soil is becoming worse and the water supplies are running out. Studies have demonstrated that appreciably higher carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations lower the quantities of protein and minerals found in staple foods for Nigerian diets, such as rice and wheat. Individual health is seriously in danger as a result of this decline in dietary quality, especially for youngsters and pregnant women.
The quality and quantity of food have significantly decreased in the states of Kaduna, Kwara, Niger, and Oyo, where agriculture is mostly dependent on the availability of regular rainfall. Food is moving from the farm to the human table in an increasingly convoluted process. Farmers struggle with weather forecasting, which can throw off their planting and harvesting plans. More often than not, floods and droughts have caused crop failure and livestock losses. Strain on food supply networks leads to shortages and higher food prices. Food instability is made worse when natural calamities disrupt international supply systems, leaving cities like Lagos and Abuja more reliant on imports.
To get over these challenges, one must improve farming methods, invest in strong infrastructure, and put in place rules that guarantee food systems can adjust. Acceptance of technical developments and breakthroughs, such as drought-resistant agricultural varieties and efficient irrigation systems, will be crucial. Regretfully, the negative effects of climate change are significantly influencing the nutritional content of food. For example, the unpredictability of the weather is creating a problem for Nigerians who love jollof rice because of the falling yields of the crop and the skyrocketing prices of tomatoes, peppers, and onions. This immediately affects how many Nigerians can prepare this simple meal, which eventually lowers the standard of their diet and nutrition.
It is becoming more evident that Nigerian food habits and carbon footprint levels are related. Greenhouse gas emissions are mostly caused by food production and transportation processes. Particularly, the production of meat is a major source of methane emissions, a strong greenhouse gas. The carbon footprint of the food chain is only increasing as people’s eating patterns change to include more meat. Encouragement of the adoption of diets high in plant-based foods can help reduce this carbon footprint. Producing foods based on plants usually uses fewer resources and has less of an environmental effect than producing foods based on animals.
In Edo State, a number of programmes highlighting the health and environmental advantages of plant-based diets are being used to promote them. Reduced food waste and encouragement of local food production are two of the most crucial steps to reduce the carbon footprint. Nigerians who decide to buy locally grown produce can help to support sustainable farming practices and lower emissions associated with long-distance transportation. Through a number of programmes, Oyo State residents are being urged to shop in neighbourhood farmer’s markets, which is fostering a sustainable and community-minded culture.
Climate fluctuation is seriously affecting Nigerian nutrition. Unpredictable weather patterns and erratic crop yields are related, and this relationship impacts the availability and cost of wholesome meals. The fact that fundamental goods are getting more and more expensive and hard to get often results in diets that are less varied and nutrient-dense. This is especially severe for vulnerable groups like children, expectant mothers, and the elderly. Increased rates of malnutrition have grave consequences for public health. Being situated at the nexus of violence and climate change, BornoState finds it especially challenging to handle the nutritional crisis.
This problem has to be addressed holistically. Among the strategies should be strengthening agricultural resilience, guaranteeing access to a range of wholesome meals, and setting up nutrition education initiatives. Agricultural research and development needs to be funded if we are to create crop varieties that will withstand climate change. Policy measures that encourage sustainable farming practices and assist smallholder farmers can help to maintain a constant food supply. One cannot stress the value of public health initiatives that highlight the need for food security and nutrition education. Anambra State mothers are being taught through a range of courses the importance of eating a range of diets in order to address the problem of child malnutrition.
Finally, quick and steady effort is needed to tackle the problem of tackling the relationship between nutrition and climate change in Nigeria. We can guarantee that future generations will have access to wholesome food and a healthy environment by raising awareness of the challenges and implementing planned solutions. Right now is the time to act. Working together, we may build a strong food system that will improve the health and welfare of every Nigerian.
