farmers
By Blessing Odega
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) has conducted a virtual training for 40 agricultural extension workers inPlateau, 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 theirfarming 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 withweather and climate that farmers mightencounter.
Matazau revealed that the predicted annual rainfall expected for the state wasbetween 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 thatparticipants were also trained on Crop Weather Calendar for the state, as this would enable themto know when best to sow certain crops.
The Commissioner for Agriculture in Plateau, Dr Hosea Finangwai, who was represented by Mrs Helen Gumkat, urgedparticipants to pay keen attention to the training so that they couldapply what they learnt andretrain 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 wasvery key, and a step inthe right direction as farming was no longer done for leisure butnow 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)
Source: NAN News