Agriculture
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has conducted a virtual training for 40 agricultural extension workers in Plateau, on rainfall prediction step down and its implications to farmers in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was conducted in collaboration with the Human Environmental Developmental Agenda (HEDA) and the Country Women Association of Nigeria (COWAN) on Wednesday in Jos.
A Director of NIMET, Prof. Mansur Matazau, in his welcome speech, said the essence of the training was to sensitise the extension workers on various predicted weather and rainfall patterns during the farming season to enhance their farming techniques.
Matazau said the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) provided farmers with essential weather advisories and early warnings as the prediction helped to reduce the risk associated with weather and climate that farmers might encounter.
Matazau revealed that the predicted annual rainfall expected for the state was between 960mm to 1,200mm, with Jos North predicted to have the highest amount of rain on the Plateau.
He urged farmers to deliberate on what steps to take with the information provided.
Mr Harauna Zakari, one of the Resource Persons from NIMET, advised farmers to plant when the normal rainfall had been established.
NAN reports that participants were also trained on Crop Weather Calendar for the state, as this would enable them to know when best to sow certain crops.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in Plateau, Dr Hosea Finangwai, who was represented by Mrs Helen Gumkat, urged participants to pay keen attention to the training so that they could apply what they learnt and retrain other farmers in their various Local Governments Areas.
Some participants who spoke with NAN, commended organisers of the training, saying it was apt but wished the training happened much earlier before the commencement of the rainy season.
A Participant, Mr Yohanna Kaze, said that the training was very key, and a step in the right direction as farming was no longer done for leisure but now as a business.
He, however, appealed that the training should be sustained but should occur before the commencement of the rainy season as it would help farmers plan well. (NAN)
– Jul. 8, 2020 @ 13:55 GMT |
Tags: NIMET conducts virtual training on rainfall prediction for farmers
