To protect farmers from the growing stresses of extreme weather and climate change, the Federal Government has been urged to promote better use of irrigation to improve food security.

Dr Ademola Adeyemo, Head of General Management Division, Agricultural & Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, said it would give the country's agriculture sector a new lease of life, in the face of shifting weather patterns.

He said it paved the way for the country to use its available land resources for the sustainable development of irrigation.

He said irrigation development is crucial since rain-fed agriculture is affected by drought and floods that will be exacerbated by climate change, impacting significantly on both the national economy and smallholder farmers' vulnerability to food insecurity.

To combat the effects of climate change, he said the nation needs sustainable irrigation that recognises the role of farmers and the challenges they face in developing the sector.

He called for funding to pave the way for financing irrigation activities carried out by individual farmers and investors, through loans or grants. This will enable farmers' groups, private individuals, associations and companies to own built irrigation infrastructure.

He wants the government to improve the management of its numerous reservoirs to optimise the efficiency of its water management.

He said the effects of climate change and natural disasters are becoming more unpredictable. He said the management of reservoirs should also encompass the collection of weather statistics, rather than depending on information provided by weather forecast agencies.

He stressed the need to build a more comprehensive reservoir management system that prioritises structural safety, efforts to reduce adverse effects of flooding, and initiatives to maintain the water supply in downstream areas.

He said the country had the potential of becoming a leading food producer since it had vast water bodies for irrigation purposes.

According to him, irrigation facilities in the country are not in shape and the onus is on Government to invest more on irrigation infrastructure to boost food production capacity instead of relying on imports.

He urged the government to boost the nation's agriculture by accelerating the development of infrastructure such as roads and storage.

He emphasised that increasing productivity in agriculture is critical for sustainable development and economic growth.