As the rains continue to fall into the end of the year, an expert has warned of a looming food shortage by next year.
A Professor of Biodiversity at the Rivers State University, GeofreyAkaniwor, gave the warning in a chat with The Tide.
He said the effects of long rainy season would be felt next year such that the planting season will be short with few harvests.
“Many of the farming areas in Niger Delta and other parts of the country will be flooded and this might discourage farmers from planting early next year”, he said.
He explained that when crop yield is fewer, food scarcity sets in because farmers will be in a hurry to harvest ahead of heavy rainy season and flooding next year.
According to him, most of the major crops such as cassava, yam, potatoes and maize do not yield well when there is flooding and this may affect yield as anticipated in the next harvest season.
On the other hand, the university don has called on the federal, state and local governments to seek ways of utilizing the heavy rains to make revenue.
He proposed that water can be channeled and sent to arid countries like Chad and Republic of Niger where they can be used to boost farming and for human consumption.
“Instead of allowing this water to waste, we can pump them to those countries and exchange money in return”, Akaniwor suggested.

By: Kevin Nengia &
Excellent Omehoma