The Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has initiated a sensitization program for farmers regarding the 2024 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) released by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to help farmers adopt climate-resilient farming techniques.
The exercise was inaugurated in Gwagwalada by Mr. Lawson Geidam, the Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, with the goal of helping farmers adopt climate-resilient farming techniques.
Geidam emphasised that this initiative is part of FCTA’s efforts to provide farmers with crucial information to enhance agricultural productivity.
However, the sensitization program is organised in collaboration with the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ).
“We will work closely with SAPZ to disseminate the seasonal climate prediction information across the six Area Councils and 17 Chiefdoms of the FCT for broader reach and greater impact,” Geidam stated.
He highlighted that climate change presents a significant environmental challenge, marked by unpredictable weather patterns, global warming, drought, torrential rainfall, flooding, and other extreme conditions, which threaten food and nutrition security.
Geidam noted that the adverse effects of climate change are driving farmers to abandon their farms and seek alternative livelihoods in cities, posing a major concern for the government.
He praised NiMet for consistently publishing the annual SCP, which provides farmers with timely and accurate information on planting schedules and crop selection, helping to bridge the knowledge gap.
The sensitization aims to enhance farmers’ capacity to adapt to climate-related risks, thereby boosting agricultural productivity.
The Secretariat has adopted a multi-faceted approach to ensure the success of the exercise, focusing on three key areas: mobilising farmers across Chiefdoms to participate actively, implementing capacity-building programs for extension agents and farmers, and strengthening communication channels between farmers and the Secretariat for seamless feedback and support.
“I assure you that the Minister of FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike, and the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, are dedicated to fostering a conducive environment for the agriculture sector to flourish,” Geidam added.
The FCT Administration’s efforts to enhance the agricultural landscape are yielding positive results through partnerships with critical organisations and projects in the sector.
However, Geidam identified key partners such as SAPZ, the Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
“We are optimistic that these efforts will lead to food self-sufficiency, improved livelihoods for our communities, and a more sustainable and prosperous future for all,” Geidam concluded.
Dr. Charles Anosike, Director-General of NiMet, explained that the SCP is one of NiMet’s flagship products that has significantly helped farmers improve their yields.
Anosike, who is also the Permanent Representative of Nigeria at the World Meteorological Organisation, noted that the SCP serves as an advisory tool for stakeholders at the federal, state, and local government levels, providing detailed information including crop weather calendars and livestock comfortability indices at the state level.