In a significant move towards bolstering agricultural productivity in Nigeria, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) Plc have announced a collaborative effort.
The decision followed a between NiMet’s director-general, Prof. Charles Anosike and the managing director of NIRSAL, Abbas Masanawa, at the NIRSAL Plc’s headquarters in Abuja.
Expressing the urgency of climate action, Anosike stated, “Critical stakeholders need to collaborate, invest in preparedness, and ensure that smallholder farmers receive early warnings of climate disasters. NiMet is eager to explore opportunities for both NiMet and NIRSAL to partner in de-risking agriculture.” He emphasised the significance of data-driven farming operations to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agricultural yield.
Welcoming the NiMet team, Masanawa acknowledged NiMet’s commendable efforts across various economic sectors, particularly in agriculture. He expressed NIRSAL’s interest in collaborating to support smallholder farmers and enhance productivity, aligning with NIRSAL’s mandate.
Masanawa highlighted the importance of collaborating with NiMet, focusing on increasing primary production to benefit vulnerable farmers. He also lauded NiMet for downscaling weather and climate data in different local Nigerian languages for wider accessibility.
The managing director concluded by announcing the establishment of a technical committee comprising experts from both NiMet and NIRSAL. This committee will work on operationalising various areas of interest, including training, data sharing and the establishment of weather stations, aiming for swift and effective implementation. The collaboration signifies a joint commitment to the prosperity of Nigerian farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole.
