Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has called on African leaders to transit from rain-fed agriculture to climate-smart and irrigation-based farming systems to guarantee long-term food security across the continent.
Governor Zulum made this call while addressing participants at the 6th African Regional Conference of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), held in Abuja on Monday.
Speaking at the event, the Governor emphasised the urgent need for strategic reforms and investments in Africa’s agricultural sector. “To feed ourselves sustainably, we must rethink how we grow our food. Transitioning from rain-dependent systems to resilient, water-smart approaches is imperative. This involves embracing climate-smart agriculture and developing efficient and inclusive irrigation infrastructure,” Zulum stated.
He highlighted the necessity for comprehensive policy reform, financing mechanisms, transboundary cooperation, investment in water infrastructure, and creating enabling environments for private sector involvement.
The Governor also underscored the importance of safeguarding the rights of communities reliant on shared water resources.
Governor Zulum stressed the need to empower research institutions, promote innovation, and enable the active participation of women and youth in agriculture. “As a leader from a region facing both climate change and post-conflict recovery, I have seen first-hand how agriculture can restore dignity and rebuild communities. In Borno State, we are laying the groundwork for agricultural transformation through sustainable irrigation initiatives,” he remarked.
Referring to the alarming state of Lake Chad, which has lost nearly 90% of its original size since the 1960s due to climate change, Governor Zulum warned that this degradation poses a serious threat to livelihoods and regional stability. “Once a source of life for over 30 million people across Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon, Lake Chad’s decline is a stark reminder that irrigation is not merely important, but indispensable,” he said, citing data from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The Governor expressed deep concern over erratic rainfall patterns, noting that nearly 65% of Sub-Saharan African farmland is rain-fed. He warned that, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), continued unpredictability in rainfall could result in a 50% reduction in crop yields by 2030. “This is not just a statistic—it is a direct threat to food security, public health, and the future of millions of families,” he cautioned.
Governor Zulum further noted the increasing impact of climate change across the continent, including desertification, flooding, drying water sources, and widespread ecological degradation. He called for an inclusive and innovative approach from smallholder farmers—who produce a significant proportion of Africa’s food—to revitalise the sector.
Despite the daunting challenges, the Governor expressed optimism in Africa’s capacity to overcome adversity, highlighting the continent’s resilience, talent, and creativity. While commending development partners for their support, he urged them to align their interventions with Africa’s long-term aspirations.
“Irrigation is not merely about water,” he concluded. “It is about ensuring that a farmer in rural Mali, a herder in eastern Kenya, or a displaced family in the Lake Chad Basin can feed their children, live in dignity, and build a future. It is about peace and prosperity.”
The conference was attended by prominent dignitaries including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev; and the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Esther Didi Walson-Jack, alongside international delegates and other stakeholders.
Governor Zulum was accompanied by Borno State Commissioner for Agriculture, Bawu Baba Musami; Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Tijani Alkali Goni, and elder statesman, Dr Musa Inuwa Kubo.
