NiMet, ILRI, Strengthens Climate Advisory Services For Farmers Through Partnership
By Stella Enenche, Abuja
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has disclosed its partnership with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) to train agricultural extension professionals on climate risk management.
According to NiMet, the 10-day Training of Trainers workshop on Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension (CRMAE), which began on Monday in Abuja, is expected to equip extension service providers with the skills to translate weather and climate information into practical advice for farmers.
The training, scheduled to run from July 6 to 17, is being held under an Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)-supported project aimed at strengthening digital climate advisory services and promoting resilient agricultural systems across target African countries.
Declaring the workshop open, NiMet Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike, said strengthening the capacity of extension officers had become imperative as climate change continues to expose farmers to unpredictable weather patterns and declining agricultural productivity.
He noted that erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, floods, heat stress and pest infestations were increasingly threatening food production and the livelihoods of rural communities.
According to him, extension officers play a strategic role in bridging the gap between scientific climate information and the day-to-day decisions made by farmers.
“Training trainers will multiply the quality, reach and impact of climate services across Nigeria’s agricultural landscape,” Anosike said.
He explained that the Nigeria-adapted Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension curriculum would enable extension and advisory service providers to incorporate climate services into their engagement with smallholder farmers, thereby improving adaptation and resilience.
The NiMet chief urged participants to build lasting professional networks and ensure that the knowledge acquired reaches farmer groups, cooperatives and extension platforms across the country.
Reaffirming the agency’s commitment to supporting weather-sensitive sectors, Anosike said NiMet would continue to provide reliable weather and climate information to enhance planning, early warning and decision-making.
In his goodwill message, Dr. Kelvi Shikuku of ILRI praised NiMet’s leadership for hosting the workshop and acknowledged the agency’s growing role in advancing climate services in Nigeria.
Also speaking, the lead facilitator from the Stockholm Environmental Institute, Dr. Tufa Dinku, described the CRMAE curriculum as a critical tool for building climate-smart agricultural systems, expressing confidence that NiMet would successfully champion its implementation nationwide.
The workshop brings together agricultural extension professionals and other stakeholders expected to cascade the training to farming communities, strengthening climate adaptation efforts and supporting sustainable food production across Nigeria.
