By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has said localized agricultural extension services backed by climate information can increase agricultural productivity by 20–30 percent while significantly reducing farmers’ vulnerability to climate shocks.
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, made the assertion at the close of the 10-day Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension (CRMAE) Training of Trainers Workshop held in Abuja.
The programme, organised by NiMet in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the Sasakawa Africa Association and other development partners, was designed to strengthen the capacity of agricultural extension personnel to provide climate-informed advisory services to farmers.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, Prof. Anosike described agricultural extension officers as the vital link between climate services and farmers, explaining that they transform weather and climate information into practical guidance on planting dates, crop selection, water management and other farm decisions.
He said the Nigeria-adapted Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension curriculum demonstrates the shared commitment of NiMet and its partners to making climate information more accessible, understandable and useful for farmers across the country.
According to him, evidence has shown that effective, localized extension services can raise agricultural productivity by 20–30 percent while helping farmers withstand the growing impacts of climate change.
Prof. Anosike urged participants to transfer the knowledge gained during the training to extension networks, farmer groups, cooperatives and rural communities, stressing that the true measure of the programme’s success would be improved farmer livelihoods, stronger climate resilience and enhanced national food security.
He also reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to institutionalising and promoting the nationwide adoption of the Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension curriculum as part of efforts to strengthen climate services for agriculture and support Nigeria’s food security agenda.
The closing ceremony was attended by key stakeholders, including Dr. Esther Ibrahim, Programme Officer, AGRA Nigeria, representing the AGRA Country Director; Mr. Pierre Sibiry, ILRI Representative; Dr. Jim Hansen, Resource Person; Dr. Godwin Atser, Country Director of the Sasakawa Africa Association; and Dr. Victoria Pillah of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Delivering remarks on behalf of the AGRA Country Director, Dr. Esther Ibrahim described climate risk management as an indispensable element of modern agricultural extension.
She encouraged participants to deploy the skills acquired during the training to provide farmers with timely, reliable and actionable climate information that supports informed decision-making and climate-resilient agricultural production.
The workshop ended with the presentation of certificates to participants, who are expected to replicate the training across extension networks and farming communities nationwide, helping bridge the gap between climate science and on-farm decision-making while strengthening farmers’ resilience to climate-related challenges.
