HEDA Resource Center Raises Flood, Risk Management Awareness Among Adamawa Farmers
From Umar Dankano, Yola
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), a non-governmental organization, has called on farmers and residents in flood-prone areas to heed warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and other relevant authorities regarding climate change.
During an awareness campaign in the Demsa and Yola-South local councils of Adamawa State, HEDA’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Sulaimon Arigbabu, highlighted the importance of this initiative. The campaign, part of the African Activists for Climate Justice project in partnership with OXFAM and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, aims to educate communities about climate change impacts and flood management.
Arigbabu emphasized that Adamawa is endowed with fertile agricultural land and dedicated farmers who need minimal support to maximize their potential and contribute to feeding both the state and the Northeast region.
In interactive sessions held over the weekend in Zurang, Mbamba, and Yolde-pate communities, HEDA’s team explained the importance of adopting drought- and flood-resistant seeds to mitigate crop losses. In Zurang, where floodwaters had already caused significant damage to farmland, HEDA provided practical advice on methods to minimize further losses.
The center also stressed the need for farmers to stay informed about climate change updates from relevant agencies before planting crops, whether in rainy or dry seasons.
Farmers expressed their readiness to implement the lessons learned from the sensitization drive and appealed for additional support, particularly in the form of farming inputs and irrigation equipment. Mrs. Lakammi Yakubu from Yolde-pate and Mr. Yakubu Borough from Zurang expressed their gratitude for the timely intervention and pledged to share the information with their communities to enhance farming practices.
They also requested further assistance, including water pumps, generators, and borehole drilling for irrigation, to boost their yields.
HEDA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting environmental sustainability through research, training, advocacy, and policy engagement.
