The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) said it would continue to provide timely agro-meteorological information to improve the lot of Nigerian farmers.
The director general and chief executive officer of the agency, Prof Charles Anosike, stated this in his welcome address at a one-day workshop held in Abuja on Monday under the theme ‘Understanding the landscape of agro-meteorological data resources and processes for facilitating climate smart agriculture adoption’ in Abuja on Monday.
The event was jointly hosted by NiMet and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
Anosike said the workshop aimed at helping the participants understand the landscape of agro-meteorological advisories in Nigeria.
“This is an important workshop that is aimed at building resilience among smallholder farmers and livestock keepers to increase productivity by identifying adaptation options, best practices, and adaptation gaps for smallholder farmers,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to the ILRI for co-hosting the event, saying it “is coming at the right time when NiMet is working on a strategic design to explore the pastoralist landscape of Nigeria in a bid to strengthen engagement and ensure the development of early warning systems specifically for the sector to make it resilient and sustainable in advancing the UN Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) initiative.”
He added that NiMet’s agro-meteorological information had evolved in scope, including the concept of co-production which is supported by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
“Co-production allows critical stakeholders to be part of the production process of weather and climate information to increase the depth and improve the accuracy and relevance of the information provided.
The workshop allows critical stakeholders to map the climate information advisories that are critical to smallholder farmers, and livestock keepers,” Anosike stated.
For his part, the programme leader of livestock, climate, and environment at ILRI, Mr Anthony Whitbread, said the workshop will improve the capacity of the participants, and help to identify gaps in information needs, data gathering, and the process of delivery of information to the last mile including gender and social inclusion.
Also speaking, the senior scientist, institutions and innovation at ILRI, Ms Rupsha Banerjee, listed the expected outcome of the workshop to include the production of country profile and info graphic and the delivery of climate services via the public and private sector in Nigeria.
