The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMET, on weather forecast to assist in planning of farming operation to adapt and mitigate the effects of erratic weather.
The MoU on seasonal climate prediction was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Ernest Umakhihe on behalf of the Ministry while, the Director General of NiMET, Prof Mansur Matazu, signed on behalf of the agency.
NIMET as a federal agency is charged with the responsibility of observing weather situations in the country in order to advise government on all aspects of meteorology project, prepare and interpret government policy in the field of meteorology as well as to issue weather and climate forecasts.
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The permanent secretary disclosed that the weather information provided by the agency has over the years has helped to shape agriculture in Nigeria with regard to amount of rainfall duration, when to grow, and length of growing season, which has assisted farmers to tackle adverse effect of climate change.
According to him, the Ministry has installed 10 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) in 10 States to assist in data generation for early warning information to farmers and that working with NiMET, the ministry hope to use the weather information to develop crop calendar for various crop value chains.
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Prof. Mansur Matazu, on his own emphasised on importance of seasonal climate prediction as one of the major focus of the agency, adding that NiMET have conducted surveys and realised that Nigerian farmers like an average African farmers are very knowledgeable and intelligent, with ability to guess weather and climate.
