NIMET urges farmers for preparation against early rain predictions

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has hinted farmers to get prepared for early rain towards farming activities while also calling attention of some states to likely spread meningitis which could hinder food performance.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika at the public presentation of the 2022 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) held last week in Abuja.

Sirika said that the earliest onset of the planting season is expected about 28^th of February 2022 in the coastal parts of the country while central areas would experience same around April and May with the northern states in June to July, adding that farmers especially in the coastal areas should get prepared for early farming preparation towards food security.  

 He noted that the onset of the planting season is predicted to be normal over most parts of Nigeria with coaster areas having it earlier, while other areas may be delayed stressed that farmers must comply to this prediction in order to avert losses saying that ‘’  The window between the onset and cessation dates can be regarded as safe periods for the planting of various crops in accordance with their cropping calendar. The growing season is predicted to last between 250-300 days in Southern parts of the country and 100 to 200 days in the North”

‘‘On the volume of rainfall in 2022, the annual rainfall amount is expected to range from 390mm in the North to over 2790mm in the South. Annual rainfall amount ranging from 390mm to 790mm is anticipated in some parts of Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina and Sokoto states. The central states such as Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, Benue and the FCT as well as Ekiti, Osun and Oyo are anticipated to record 1190mm to 1590mm of total rainfall” said him

 The minister who commended last year effort of NiMet as regards weather predictions also mentioned there would be dry spells of different degree from May to August 2022 in different parts of the country, adding that global report has categorised year 2021 as among the hottest seven warmest years on record.

Earlier in his remarks, Director General/CEO of NiMet, Professor Mansur Bako Matazu said that the Seasonal Climate Prediction is one of NiMet’s tools that has helped a lot of farmers in yields improvement improve, adding that SCP was a veritable tool to notify relevant stakeholders and emergency managers of the anticipated rainfall pattern within the season for necessary mitigation plans.

Also, NiMet has  alerted some states in the North of meningitis outbreak in the month of February, saying it is necessary for them to know so as to get prepared  against its spread. The states are Borno, Yobe, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa.

 While moderate vigilance for meningitis is anticipated in the central and other parts of the north. Imo, Edo, Anambra, Ondo and Osun states are expected to be in low watch for meningitis, just as that the coastal parts of the country are likely to have no vigilance for the disease o:p>