Farmers in Southern Plateau Cry Out as Short Rainfall Threatens Crops, Livelihoods

Farmers across Southern Plateau are raising the alarm over a significant shortfall in rainfall that has left crops wilting, discolored, and at risk of total failure. The unusual weather pattern, which has seen rainfall end abruptly in key agricultural communities, is threatening food security and the livelihoods of hundreds of farming families.

Communities most affected include Langtang South, Mikang, Quan’pan, and parts of Shendam, where farmlands that should be lush and thriving in mid-July are now showing signs of severe stress. According to local farmers, maize, millet, yam, and vegetables staple crops in the region are particularly hard-hit, with some already beyond recovery.

Mr. Iliya Nanpon, a maize farmer in Garkawa, told Fusion Chronicle that the rains, which started late in the season, also ended prematurely. “We planted with hope when the rains came in May, but by late June, they stopped coming. Our crops are drying up before our eyes. We don’t know what to do next,” he lamented.

Another farmer, Mrs. Rhoda Pam in Kwa, expressed concern over how the drought would affect food prices and community welfare. “Without good harvest, there’ll be hunger. We depend on these farms not just to feed ourselves, but to sell in the market and support our children’s education,” she said.

Local extension officers confirm the trend, attributing it to shifting climate patterns that are increasingly becoming unpredictable. “We are seeing evidence of a disrupted rainfall cycle likely tied to broader climate change,” said Mr. Timothy dawang, an agricultural extension officer based in Quan’pan. “There’s an urgent need for the government to step in with support both in emergency relief and long-term irrigation planning.”

So far, there has been no official response from the Plateau State Ministry of Agriculture. However, concerned stakeholders are calling for immediate intervention, including access to drought-resistant seeds, provision of water pumps, and technical support to mitigate the looming food crisis.

As Southern Plateau grapples with this growing threat, residents say time is running out. Without prompt assistance and strategic action, the once fertile lands of the region may be heading toward a devastating agricultural season.