NiMet predicts low rainfall as Agric, Water ministries pally on irrigation

Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMet)’s

The Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMet)’s Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) official release for 2016 has indicated shorter rainfall as both Agriculture and Water Resources Ministry would meet on irrigation modalities to checkmate dry spell’s  vagaries based on  advice from Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Samaru, Zaria.

In his message, the Director General (DG) / Chief executive Officer (CEO) of NiMet, Dr. Anthony Anuforom said there would be shorter rainfall that will requires that farmers are well educated so as to mitigate impact saying“rainfall prediction indicates that the rainy season in Nigeria this year will be characterized by late on set, early cessation and lower-than-normal rainfall in many parts of the country, especially in the northernmost parts. Also dry spells during the rainy season may be more frequent and severe in many parts of the North, while the “Little Dry Season” or (August break) in parts of the south are expected to be pronounced. These are risk factors for farmers in the affected areas, and have to be carefully and scientifically managed”

Dr. Anthony Anuforom stressed further that it was necessary to state that the expected lower-than normal rainfall in parts of the country does not rule the possibility of isolated flash floods due to high intensity rainfall at the peak of the season, especially in places that are naturally prone to flooding” thereby emphasizing on the need for more collaboration among Ministry, Department and Agencies (MDAs) pointed that “ the FMARD should work closely with NiMet to include relevant agro metrological information as part of its agric extension package. NiMet will like to work with the Ministry of Environment to complete the development of a National Framework for climate services (NFACS). We are ready to partner with any state government or groups to downscale the SRP to their zone, translate the SRP to local languages and providing training on the interpretation and application”

 Executive Director, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Prof. I.U Abubarkar on his position during one of the sessions titled “SRP: A tool for reviving Agriculture as an Economic Growth” said the vagaries of shorter rain with dry spells severe in many parts of the North could be mitigated by availability of heat tolerant seed varieties to farmers cum full utilization of our dams for the all year round cultivations to achieving food security.

IAR ED Prof. Abubakar responding to chairman of the session, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) Chief Audu Ogbeh on question of drought and flood management stressed further that government need to do more in areas of funding research and extension services for the benefit of rural people with deployment of more farmers into full capacity use of dam for irrigation farming.

 An insurance expert, Mr. I. Akerele stressed the need for weather index document that would enhance efficient insurance cover for farmers in terms of data adding that insurance policies are another method of risk management against climate change impact. 

Unveiling the SRP for the year 2016, the Minister of State for Aviation Ministry, Sen. Hadi Sirika said the theme of the NIMET review for this year tagged around Agriculture and Transport cannot be better than now in the face of present economic situation that called for repositioning of local contents through efficient transportation system enhanced with weather forcast for proper and efficient moving of people and agricultural produce from the local areas to city centre adding the SRP release would the very useful in this regards.

Sen. Sirika pointed that the importance President Mohammadu Buhari attached to the issue of climate change is unmeasurable saying that “Federal Government is developing an integrated inter-model transport system (air, land and water) that maximizes the transportation of goods, raw materials and people.

 This involves the construction of aviation, rail and highway infrastructures that links major cities and centres of economic activities. All these activities and programmes are sensitive to weather and climate variability. In this age of frequent and intense weather extremes, occasioned by global warming and climate change, NiMet’ weather and climate prediction provides useful information for reducing losses, and taking advantage of favourable weather conditions to achieve more efficient and effective implementation of such programmes and projects. In the agricultural sector for instance, I have been informed that emorical evidence shows that the proper application of agro-metrological information to farming could increase crop yield by up to 35 percent “

In retrospect, Aviation Minister, state, Sen. Sirika pointed the impact of the 2012 flood disaster due to not taking NIMET prediction very serious saying that “ our past experiences in Nigeria show that we are highly vulnerable to extreme weather phenomena. For instance, the 1972/73 drought drastically reduced the contribution of agriculture to GDP in Nigeria from 18.4% in 1971/1972 to 7.3% in 1972/73.

 It was also reported that about 300,000 animals representing 13% of livestock population in the North East Nigeria at that time were estimated to have died as a result of drought. The 2012 flood disaster directly affected 30 states in Nigeria, killed 363, injured 5,851 and displaced 3,871,053 persons due to the resulting floods. The total value of destroyed physical and durable assets caused by the floods in the most affected states was estimated to have reached N1.48 trillion”