The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has called for insurance coverage for Nigerian farmers as a vital step toward strengthening food security.
This call was made during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to his office in Abuja on Tuesday.
Anosike expressed gratitude to the USAID delegation for recognizing the pivotal role NiMet plays in the agricultural value chain and other sectors.
He highlighted the importance of their collaboration, particularly in the upcoming Agricultural Insurance and Weather Advisory Services Roundtable, themed “Creating Last-mile Structures for Agricultural Insurance & Weather Advisory Services – A Risk Mitigation and Resilience Measure for Smallholder Farmers.”
The NiMet boss urged the USAID team to extend invitations to the financial sector, emphasizing the critical role they play in integrating climate risk into operations and risk management.
“NiMet does a lot of work in early warnings. It’s not just about the productivity of farmers; it’s also about saving lives. Early warnings save lives, and with the financial sector involved, we can achieve a robust agricultural insurance scheme for farmers,” Anosike stated.
He further stressed that climate change exacerbates existing economic problems, describing it as a “threat multiplier” that compels NiMet to innovate and take proactive measures.
Anosike assured the delegation of NiMet’s active participation in all aspects of the roundtable to ensure its success.
Encouraging USAID to consider a pilot insurance scheme for farmers before rolling it out to the public sector, Anosike also mentioned NiMet’s plans to launch a series of training programs on weather, water, and climate science. These initiatives aim to build capacity among stakeholders and foster a shared vision for climate resilience.
Speaking earlier, Dr. Ben Odoemena, Chief of Party, Extension Activity of USAID, acknowledged the strategic importance of NiMet, particularly in the context of climate change.
“Climate change is here to stay, and it impacts every aspect of life, including agriculture. Our mission is to collaborate with NiMet and ensure their participation in the roundtable, as their role is crucial in achieving our objectives,” Odoemena said.
He highlighted the limited penetration of insurance and weather information in rural areas, stressing the need to scale up these services.
“We want smallholder farmers to be conscious of weather forecasts before going to their farms. That is the only way we can ensure that we are on track in agriculture,” Odoemena added.
The proposed stakeholders’ roundtable is expected to significantly complement NiMet’s services and contribute to building a resilient agricultural sector in Nigeria.