NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Kwara, IsDB to invest .2m in livestock development project
Agriculture

Kwara, IsDB to invest $57.2m in livestock development project

333 total views today

By Afusat Agunbiade-Oladipo

Kwara Government has partnered with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Saudi Arabia, to invest $57.2 million in an agricultural transformation initiative aimed at boosting livestock production and rural development.

The State Coordinator of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ), Dr Busari Isiaka, confirmed the partnership in an interview with journalists on Thursday in Ilorin.

He said that the project was funded through this partnership to establish robust infrastructure for investors and local farmers in beef and milk processing.

Isiaka emphasised the significance of the project, saying it marked the first time a sitting governor had served as chairman of a steering committee for such an initiative.

“To understand the importance of this project, it is a five-year initiative with joint funding from the state government and IsDB.

“While other states in the federation receive support from the African Development Bank, Kwara is pioneering this collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank,” he said.

He further highlighted that Kwara demonstrated early commitment by swiftly paying its counterpart funds, making it the first state to fulfill its financial obligations.

“This prompt action has enabled significant progress on the project.

“The initiative primarily focuses on improving agricultural infrastructure, particularly in the livestock sector, with the core objective of enhancing the livelihoods of rural communities.

“The SAPZ project will prioritise youth and women while promoting food and nutritional security.

“It is designed to provide sustainable solutions for livestock farmers by ensuring access to modern processing facilities,” he added.

Dr Isiaka also stated that the project was being implemented in five local government areas– Ifelodun, Kaiama, Baruten, Asa, and Moro.

He explained that it would feature Agricultural Transformation Centres.

“Here, local farmers can process raw materials such as milk before transporting them to an agro-industrial hub in Malete, Moro Local Government Area, for further processing into dairy products like yogurt and cheese.

“The beef value chain will also be integrated into the project, with necessary facilities to support meat processing.

“To ensure smooth execution, we conducted extensive environmental assessments and community consultations.

“We have profiled over 5,000 beneficiaries, ensuring that the infrastructure meets their needs, including access to potable water,” he said.

According to Isiaka, the project is currently in its design phase and is expected to transition into full infrastructure development later this year.

He also revealed that the state government had engaged consultants to attract both local and international investors to the project.

“The goal of the Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) is to reduce agricultural wastage and enhance value addition.

“Kwara is positioning itself as a leader in livestock processing, and this initiative will ensure that our farmers benefit immensely,” he said.(NAN)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa

Disease prevention: L-PRES to establish 20 veterinary hospitals in geopolitical zones
Agriculture

Disease prevention: L-PRES to establish 20 veterinary hospitals in geopolitical zones

323 total views today

By Felicia Imohimi

Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) says it is embarking on building and equipping 20 Model Veterinary Hospitals across geopolitical zones to strengthen delivery of quality animal healthcare nationwide.

The National Project Coordinator (NPC) L-PRES, Sanusi Abubakar, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Abubakar revealed that some of the 20 states for the model veterinary hospitals include Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Plateau, Niger, Kwara, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Zamfara.

Others he said were Edo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ondo, Ekiti and Oyo States.

He disclosed that seven out of the number were already at various stages of completion.

According to him, these are the ones in Sokoto, Niger, Enugu, Ondo, Borno, Adamawa and Edo States.

“The intention of the project is to enable easier access of cluster livestock farmers to veterinary services among others.

“The hospitals are basically for improved clinical services by veterinarians, training and ambulatory services for the project’s farmers across the 20 states where L-PRES is been implemented.

“These model veterinary hospitals are unique in their locations as they are to serve identified value chain clusters in the various states.

“This will be made easy by assigning full-fledged and operational ambulatory vehicles to offer mobile veterinary services in areas that may not have easy access to the veterinary facility.

“By estimation, the animal health infrastructure will serve more than 450,000 value clusters in its first and second year of full operations.”

The L-PRES national project coordinator added that the infrastructures would be linked with the private sector in a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to ensure sustainability.

He said that more than 80 per cent of registered veterinarians were in the private sector, adding that bringing them on board would ensure full utilisation of the facilities.

He said the arrangement would further ensure mentoring and training of younger professionals that would be handed the mantle of leadership soonest.

“L-PRES is a 500 million US dollars World Bank project that has been on in about 20 states across Nigeria.

“The project objective is to improve productivity, commercialisation and resilience of livestock value chains generally.

“Most of the activities that are going on at the states level deal with livestock value chain enhancement.

“That is support in terms of natural resources, water, and pasture, but nationally we deal with institutional support.

“We have built seven veterinary hospitals at every geopolitical zone. Currently we are upscaling the facilities, hopefully by the end of the year we will increase the number with additional eight,” he said.

Abubakar explained that L-PRES framework was to ensure all its targeted 450,000 livestock value chain clusters are reached with veterinary care or services.

According to him, the organisation wants to create a system of ambulatory service whereby farmers make a call, and the service is taken to them.

“We are working with veterinary doctors, paramedics and community health officers to support the lives of farmers.

“That model veterinary hospital will be the hub for these professionals that will be supporting our process.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Deborah Coker

Animal health: L-PRES targets 850m annual vaccine production
Agriculture

Animal health: L-PRES targets 850m annual vaccine production

353 total views today

By Felicia Imohimi

The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has announced plans to increase annual vaccine production in the country to 850 million doses, compared to the current capacity of 120 million doses.

The National Project Coordinator (NPC) of L-PRES, Sanusi Abubakar, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

Abubakar emphasised that the 120 million doses produced annually by the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) was grossly inadequate.

The project aims to achieve this target by enhancing the institute’s capacity.

Abubakar noted that this initiative would reduce the high cost of vaccine imports in the country.

Providing an update on the project’s achievements and prospects, he stated that the goal would be realised by upgrading NVRI’s obsolete infrastructure, equipment, and storage capacity.

The NPC identified the institute’s modernisation as part of the project’s institutional system strengthening component, adding that this initiative would make the country self-sufficient in livestock vaccines.

“Achieving this 850 million vaccine doses annually, we don’t need to import vaccine to Nigeria, we will be self-sufficient.

“We will even export vaccines to other countries and by so doing we are reducing capital flight and dollar issue.

“This will be made possible by making NVRI a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standard laboratory, a mandatory quality assurance pre-requisite for any vaccine-producing institution to be eligible for export of its product to the global community,” he said.

Abubakar listed other key components of the project, including livestock value chain enhancement and the renovation of livestock markets.

He also revealed that the project had completed the 40-million-dose capacity strategic vaccine storage facility in Sheda, FCT, as part of its institutional system strengthening.

Abubakar assured that the project aims to construct six additional storage facilities across the country’s geopolitical zones.

“With these facilities, we will have a place to keep our vaccine for onward distribution to our livestock farmers,” he said.

As part of its institutional strengthening efforts, the project has also established a pasture seed multiplication centre at the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) in Zaria.

According to Abubakar, L-PRES will further support the institute with animal breeding through Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART), including Artificial Insemination (AI), in livestock by 2025.

(NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

Enugu Govt. launches “One Ward, One Smart Farm Estate Initiative”
Agriculture

Enugu Govt. launches “One Ward, One Smart Farm Estate Initiative”

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By Stanley Nwanosike

The Enugu State Government says it is set to launch its 260 Smart Farm Estates meant to revolutionise agriculture and get residents to farm.

Mr Patrick Ubru, Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industralisation, said this on Monday while leading a team of inspectors on behalf of Gov. Peter Mbah to the site of the Smart Farm Estate pilot project at Akpawfu in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State.

It would be recalled that the state government had earmarked N2 billion in the 2025 budget for Smart Farm Estates initiative across its 260 political wards in the 17 council areas of the state.

The initiative is under Gov. Mbah’s grassroots agriculture revolution tagged: “One Ward, One Smart Farm Estate’’.

Ubru said that there was a need for step-down town hall meetings for farmers in council areas to take advantage of the initiative

According to him, time should not be wasted in organising the town hall meeting with the targeted farmers.

He called on individuals, cooperative societies, communities, corporate organisations and other agencies in the state into agriculture and agro-industrialisation business like IFAD-VCDP and FADAMA to key into the initiative for collaboration in the interest of the people.

The commissioner explained that the ‘One Ward, One Smart Farm Estate Initiative’ would be a game-changer for the people, as the governor was putting everything in place to ensure that people received its maximum benefits.

“It will be done in hectares of land, where all types of farming activities such as crop farming and exotic/economic plant such as cocoa, cassava, sorghum, vegetables, exotic pepper and spices among others will be practised.

“The state government will actively collaborate with local government councils to ensure that the initiative works efficiently as well as engage the people, especially youths, in each locality to participate in the initiative as it holds lots of benefits.

“The One Ward, One Smart Farm Estate initiative will solve so many issues particularly unemployment among youths in localities, hunger, food insecurity and knowledge gap on modern agriculture practices as workshops will be organised at local levels,” Ubru said.

The commissioner expressed satisfaction on the zeal demonstrated by the consultant and his team so far in the project.

“I must confess that the zeal demonstrated here is in consonance with the aspirations of His Excellency, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah on all projects targeted towards shoring up the state’s economy, especially agriculture and agro-industrialisation projects.

“I am personally happy with the level of security infrastructure placed here and the State Ministry of Agriculture will always be available for any need to ensure that the success story attained by this pilot farm continues,” he added.

Corroborating, the Senior Personal Assistant (SPA) on Agriculture to the Governor, Mr Mike Ogbuekwe, explained that the initiative was meant to diversify the state’s economy through agriculture and agro-industrialisation aimed at shoring up the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

“The Smart Farm Estates are expected to grow local needed crops as well as special crops and other agricultural produce for export such as Sorghum and Ose Nsukka, the special aromatic and ornamental yellow pepper of Nsukka,” Ogbuekwe said.

He also informed the commissioner of the approach by Nigeria Breweries to the state government to work out a partnership for the supply of Sorghum which was its principal raw material at the appropriate time.

Contributing, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Victor Ngwu, said that there was a need for staff of the ministry with experience in communication and documentation to be part of the initiative to get reliable data and statistics.

Earlier, the Consultant to the Smart Farm Estate pilot project, Mr Friday Nnaji, said that the pilot project was a 200 hectares of farmland to be allocated to 200 farmers of the local council with each to grow a specific crop.

“The pilot Smart Farm Estate has two entrance points located at its opposite points and there will be an unstoppable electricity supply as well as water supply in the Smart Farm with a plan for irrigation as well as adequate security.

“As you can see, we have commenced the perimeter fencing of the whole farm area; while the central warehouse for the farmers is already constructed above lintel level,” Nnaji said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

Minister inspects Makurdi irrigation project, opens access road
Agriculture

Minister inspects Makurdi irrigation project, opens access road

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By Onyeje Abutu-Joel

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, on Friday inspected the Makurdi irrigation farm project and commissioned the Ugodo community access road.

Utsev, while inspecting the farm at Mbakuv in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue, said the farm has over 3,000 hectares of irrigable land.

He explained that 1,200 out of the 3,000 hectares would be used for irrigation farming, while the remaining 1,800 hectares would be allocated to the upcoming Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project.

He stated that while 400 hectares had already been cleared and were in use, a contract had been awarded for the study and design of the remaining 600 hectares, which was at an advanced stage.

The minister also noted that, to facilitate the expansion of the existing irrigation farm, a contract had been awarded for the construction of water channels.

“We have given a contract for the construction of irrigation channels, and we also gave a contract for drip irrigation and for the study and design for the expansion of the existing irrigation farm.

“The contractor handling the construction of the channels is doing very well because the construction of the channel is almost 90 per cent completed, while the drip irrigation is about 67 per cent completed.

“We have garden eggs, maize and pepper cultivated, and you can see that they are doing very well,” he said.

Utsev also disclosed that the Otukpo Multipurpose Dam, which is 50 per cent complete, had been included in the 2025 budget and would be completed.

He added that the ministry was also considering generating power at the dam to improve electricity supply in the country.

At the commissioning of the 1.5-kilometre Ugodo Community access road, Utsev said the road would enable the community to transport their agricultural produce to the town.

He stated that the road would also enhance the overall socio-economic well-being of the community.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Richard Pheelangwah, urged the people to continue supporting the minister to ensure more democratic benefits.

Pheelangwah noted that more projects would be implemented with the people’s support and cooperation with the Minister.

Also, HRH Ter Makurdi, Chief Vincent Ahule, commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Utsev and Sen. George Akume as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Ahule stated that the people of Benue stood behind the President and would support his bid for a second term. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

First Lady launches agricultural empowerment programme in Ebonyi
Agriculture

First Lady launches agricultural empowerment programme in Ebonyi

382 total views today

By Uchenna Ugwu

The Wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday inaugurated the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Agriculture Support Programme in Ebonyi.

Mrs Tinubu launched the Grand Agro Empowerment Programme for Women, Youths, and Young Farmers Club in schools.

The event, promoting sustainable agriculture, took place at the Old Presidential Lodge, Abakaliki.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the club’s inauguration was in collaboration with BERWO, the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

Tinubu, represented by the State Coordinator of RHI, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, said the initiative aimed to inspire a new generation of young farmers.

She disclosed that over 100 women in agriculture would be empowered through the programme.

The initiative, she stated, reflected a collective commitment to food security, economic empowerment, and sustainable agriculture in the state and country.

She added that the programme recognised potential by establishing Young Farmers Clubs in schools. It provided mentorship programmes where experienced farmers would guide young members.

Tinubu expressed her commitment to fostering an environment where everyone would have the opportunity to thrive through agriculture.

“We aim to empower women by providing training workshops on sustainable farming practices, financial literacy, and business management skills,” she said.

The First Lady added that access to resources such as seedlings, fertilisers, and funds would enhance productivity.

“By connecting women farmers with each other, we can help them share knowledge and increase economic opportunities,” Tinubu assured.

Mrs Nkechineyre Iyioku, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, appreciated the initiative. She urged new members to take pride in their role as future leaders in agriculture.

Also, Mr Sunday Ituma, State Programme Coordinator of the International Fund for Agriculture Support Valued Chain Development Programme, pledged maximum support to achieve results.

“Agriculture employs 70 per cent of our population, and we are working to ensure its effective practice,” Ituma said.

Victory Otti and Saviour Egwu, students and Young Farmers Club members, promised to extend the programme to their respective schools.

NAN reports that inductees received farming tools and improved seedlings from the First Lady.

The event featured lectures on rice and cassava best practices, bag-yam and potatoes technology, and backyard gardening. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah / Kamal Tayo Oropo

Ondo Govt acquires 10000 hectares of land for farm project
Agriculture

Ondo Govt acquires 10000 hectares of land for farm project

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By Segun Giwa

Ondo State Government says it has acquired 10,000 hectares of land in the Southern Senatorial District of the state for agricultural project.

The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Agriculture, Mr Wemimo Akinsola, said at a stakeholder’s meeting in Akure on Friday, that the initiative would focus on youth and women.

According to him, the initiative is undertaken in collaboration with the Commonwealth Women’s Network with the aim of empowering youths and women by providing opportunities within the agricultural sector.

Akinsola said that the $200 million project would drive industrial-scale agriculture and economic development in the region.

He said that the land, acquired through the Ondo State Agribusiness Empowerment Centre (OSAEC), under the land banking scheme, was expected to serve as a major agricultural hub.

He said that the project would cover planting, production, processing, packaging and marketing, transforming the 10,000 hectares into a major agricultural hub in the Southern Senatorial District.

“The selected location provides access to water, which is essential for successful agricultural activities.

“Additionally, with the planned seaport in the region and the existing airport in the state capital, the state is strategically preparing for the future exportation of agricultural products,” he said.

Akinsola said that the initiative aligned with the state government’s vision of making Ondo State a leading agribusiness hub in Nigeria.

He said that both smallholder farmers and large-scale investors would benefit from the modern agricultural techniques, global market access and improved productivity.

Also speaking, Mr Niba Louis, Cabinet Director, Commonwealth Women’s Network, said the organisation would provide the necessary funding, training and technical expertise for the project.

Louis explained that the initiative would employ over 3,000 workers, predominantly farmers, and would enhance their productivity rather than replacing them.

According to him, the goal is to make farming more accessible and sustainable.

A farmer, Mr Shola Adeniyan, expressed his excitement about the project, urging farmers to embrace the opportunity and make the best use of the available land. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Tayo Ikujuni

Oyo, Netherlands collaborate on tomato production
Agriculture

Oyo, Netherlands collaborate on tomato production

286 total views today

By David Adeoye

The Oyo State Government is set to explore opportunities in greenhouse technology to boost tomato production.

The Director-General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Dr Debo Akande, said this when a Dutch delegation visited Gov. Seyi Makinde in Ibadan on Friday.

The Dutch delegation was led by the Consular-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nigeria, Mr Michel Deelen.

Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the visit, Akande said the governor had already given a marching order on the effort to boost tomato production.

He said the efforts would see about 50 greenhouses producing tomatoes in the state to complement what smallholder farmers are doing in the open fields.

Akande said the Netherlands delegation was ready to partner with Oyo state in the area of tomato production.

According to him, the state has achieved great success in the agriculture value chain.

Akande said the state had carved a niche for itself in the area of cassava production.

He added that the visit by the Netherlands delegation would offer the state the opportunity of exploring tomato production on a large scale.

Akande said the partnership with the Dutch government was going to help the state accelerate tomato production.

He said the state government would continue to provide an enabling environment and the right facility.

The Consular-General, Kingdom of The Netherlands, Deelen, said his team, which included about 15 Dutch companies was on a trade mission.

He said the team included seed companies and specialists in horticulture and greenhouse technology.

According to him, discussion on how they could work with the Oyo State Government to boost production of horticulture products was held. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

ActionAid, NADF collaborate on effective utilisation of agriculture fund
Agriculture

ActionAid, NADF collaborate on effective utilisation of agriculture fund

314 total views today

By Felicia Imohimi

ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) says it is partnering with the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) to ensure effective and proper implementation of the fund.

Azubike Nwokoye Food Systems Specialist, AAN said this at the National Stakeholders Meeting on NADF in Abuja.

NADF is statutorily mandated to promote the development of agriculture and management of related natural resources in an environmental friendly manner.

It desires to utilise these funds to procure goods and services in different parts of the country.

Nwokoye said the meeting was organised to enable stakeholders understand the fund more, its challenges and as well reflect on how best it could be supported to enhance agricultural productivity of youth and women farmers.

“NADF is a darly fund design to provide more resources to the agricultural sector, so it is a fund that is suppose to support communities.

“We are having this conversation so that we can all understand the fund more and also reflect on how best we can support it.

“Our agriculture sector is faced with challenges of low allocation, little releases and most time lack of proper capital releases.

“Some of us are afraid that NADF will face same situation and the earlier we start conversations on how best to navigate this challenges the better for us,”he said.

Nwokoye said stakeholders target is to ensure Nigeria meet 10 per cent fund commitment to the sector.

He recommended that the fund should prioritise key areas like access to credit, reducing post-harvest losses through provision of processing and storage facilities, market access, facilitating transportation, extension services and labour saving technologies.

The specialist further emphasised that there was need to support irrigation “so that we can have a better output for the agricultural sector in terms of exploring rural economic growth.

Nwokoye who said there were number of policies that have not been implemented however emphasised that collaborating with NADF and other stakeholders was to identify the challenges bedeviling the fund and chart a way forward.

“So we will work together as stakeholders and see how best the fund performs for the agricultural sector.

“There are already donors that are supporting the fund in terms of capacity building and other support, so this meeting is an avenue for those stakeholders to also reflect and understand how better to support the fund,”he said.

The Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim said NADF remain committed to fostering collaboration, building strategic partnerships and supporting policies that enhance agribusiness financing and drive technological innovation for a more prosperous Nigeria.

Ibrahim represented by Ernest Ihedigbo, General Manager, Technical Services, NADF said the fund is currently advancing a seed enhancement project, focusing on four priority crops.

He identified the crops as cassava, maize, rice, and cowpeas as well as millet and oil palm.

Ibrahim said the continued efforts align with the organisations’s vision of enhancing food security and improving agricultural productivity.

“We plan to pay particular attention to smallholder women farmers as well as youth who are keen to develop the agribusiness space.

“We believe in the power of agricultural development to drive socio-economic transformation.

“Our mission is to provide sustainable and inclusive financing that bridges critical gaps in Nigerian agriculture, fostering long-term stability and prosperity. We aspire to be the leading development fund championing agricultural sustainability and economic progress in Nigeria.

“To achieve this, NADF has implemented several initiatives like the Ginger Recovery Advancement and Transformation for Economic Empowerment (GRATE) programme which played a crucial role in mitigating the devastating effects of the ginger blight epidemic,”he said.

Ibrahim said the organisation in its commitment to strengthening agricultural sector conducted a Baseline and Needs Assessment Survey in conjunction with Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN).

The assessment according to him covers 16 agricultural research institutes and 17 colleges of agriculture across the country.

He says “the survey aim is to identify strengths, gaps, opportunities and constraints in our agricultural research and training ecosystem.

“Key findings are infrastructure deficiencies, obsolete equipment and funding constraints.

“Infrastructure development is the major component of the fund”.(NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

IFAD-VCDP train farmers on climate-smart agriculture
Agriculture

IFAD-VCDP train farmers on climate-smart agriculture

407 total views today

By Felicia Imohimi

The International Fund for Agricultural Development-Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP) has trained field staff, farmers, and processors in VCDP states on downscaling seasonal predictions and adopting climate-smart agriculture.

The Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) provided the 2025 seasonal climate predictions.

The training, which held in Nasarawa on Wednesday, covered Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, and Taraba states.

Speaking at the Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop, Mr Nura Lawal, Climate Change Specialist at IFAD-VCDP, said the training would equip farmers with climate-smart practices to mitigate the effects of weather variability.

Lawal stated that the programme would also update farmers on the latest agricultural technologies and equipment.

“The training covers soil management, crop rotation, pest and disease control, and efficient irrigation methods to help farmers adapt to climate change,” he said.

He explained that the pre-season training aimed to prepare extension agents and processors to guide farmers in adopting best practices throughout 2025.

“The training provides farmers with weather and climate advisory services, essential for effective planning,” he added.

Lawal noted that IFAD-VCDP’s collaboration with NiMet ensures farmers receive accurate climate information to support sustainable farming.

“At the end of the workshop, each state will develop a cropping calendar outlining on-farm and off-farm activities.

“With unpredictable weather patterns, many farmers face significant risks. This information will help them mitigate potential losses,” he said.

Ahmad Aboki, Principal Meteorologist at NiMet, presented the 2025 seasonal climate forecast.

He said the growing season in Karu Local Government Area is expected to last between 155 and 177 days, ending between Oct. 17 and 26.

“In Doma LGA, rainfall is expected to start on May 1, while in Nasarawa Egon, Lafia, and Keffi, it will commence between May 6 and 21,” he said.

He also highlighted dry spell predictions, noting that between April and June, Oyo State may experience a severe dry spell lasting over 15 days.

“While Ekiti, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Imo, and Abia may see moderate dry spells of up to 15 days, between June and August, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom may experience severe dry spells lasting up to 21 days”.

Aboki emphasised NiMet’s role in providing accurate weather and climate data for economic development, disaster preparedness, and early warning systems.

He reaffirmed NiMet’s ongoing partnership with IFAD-VCDP to improve crop yields and farming systems through climate adaptation.

Mustapha Baba’aji, Principal Meteorologist, noted the increasing impact of climate change in Nigeria, including extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves.

“Farmers are increasingly concerned about unpredictable rainy seasons, flooding, and damage to infrastructure and ecosystems,” he said.

Susan Akaaga, a rice farmer and processor from Benue, praised the training for providing valuable insights into weather patterns and optimal planting times.

“This training has helped me understand when to plant for better yields,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Tosin Kolade

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