Nigeria, located in western Africa has a tropical climate with variable rainy and dry seasons which is a factor of location. Dwellers in the south experience the wettest period of the year between June and September every year. In this post, I hope to consider the significance of rain to national and individual development. This came as a result of too many arguments about which season is favorable to live in. whether dry or rainy season, all seasons are very important to man for different purposes. Elsewhere, you will learn about winter and summer. This is just an indication that everywhere has a particular factor that made it what it is.
In some parts of southern Nigeria, when it rains heavily, iced pebbles drop from the sky. In the late 1990s, there were times it rained fish. I had once argued that it is impossible until I witnessed one in 2006. A life fish on the roof of a building during a heavy downpour.
Importance Of Rainfall In Nigeria
The first importance of rainfall to any nation is that it provides water for the survival of plants. During the wet season, plants get a natural supply of water. At other times, when the rain continues sporadically, it could result in a flood that washes away the topmost part of the soil, which is necessary for the crop plantation.
Agricultural production depends on natural water supply. Technology has helped in no small measure with the irrigation system.
In coastal Nigeria, fishing is a good venture on freshwater. Freshwater fish like catfish, crappie, trout, walleye, tilapia, perch, and many others. In parts of Lagos where fishermen go all day on a fishing spree. The best time to eat some really good fish is during this season.
Vegetable farmers too get the best for the period during the rainy season. Their products become cheaper in the market and many subsistent farmers too would not bother going to get vegetables in the market that they would have cultivated in their small farms.
Yams and other tubers' crops do well during the rainy season.
On other hand, livestock in a local farm arrangement does not do well during the rainy season. The fatality of livestock farming during the rainy season is always high.
On humans, the rainy season cold is a different one.
Fishing on high waves sea during the rainy season is almost a waste of time for local fishermen. The sea is fuller in liquid content during the rainy season.
Traffic is another big issue with us during the rainy season. As soon it rains, in some corners of our locality, movement becomes a no-go area. Badly constructed toads are exposed when it rains. Most traffic in major cities in Nigeria is caused by badly constructed roads.
Locally built markets too faces low patronage in rainy periods. Aside the fact that supply of edibles are high and price lower, customers are scared of going to the markets because of fear of being drench in the rain.
However, we are that we experience heavy amount of rainfall. In some parts of the world, this natural gift is not witnessed.
We are glad for what we have, the heritage we share and we have adapted to it all.
