Victoria Mgbanwa
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment towards integrating climate intelligence into agriculture as a key strategy for achieving food security and economic stability.
This was emphasized by the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, during the unveiling of the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in Abuja on Tuesday.
The government’s renewed focus on climate-smart agriculture is part of a broader agenda to boost farmers’ resilience, mitigate climate-related risks, and enhance agricultural productivity.
According to the Minister, the SCP serves as a critical tool for decision-making, enabling farmers to adapt to changing weather patterns, optimize planting seasons, and reduce losses due to unpredictable climatic conditions.
“The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is fully supporting and committed to the early warning system, climate-smart agriculture, and every development initiative to achieve food security and a resilient environment,” Abdullahi stated.
Agriculture remains a major driver of Nigeria’s economy, contributing 17.22% to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2024. Smallholder farmers, who make up over 70% of the agricultural workforce, are expected to benefit significantly from the SCP’s data-driven insights.
By leveraging climate intelligence, farmers can make informed choices on crop selection, irrigation needs, and pest control strategies, ultimately increasing yields and reducing post-harvest losses. Beyond boosting food production, Abdullahi highlighted the far-reaching impacts of SCP adoption.
“SCP will enable farmers to increase productivity, while poverty, hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition, food imports, and unemployment will reduce, even as women’s empowerment in agriculture and environmental performance will increase,” he noted.
The Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, has placed climate action at the forefront of its agenda.
The creation of the Office of the Presidential Special Envoy on Climate Action further underscores the country’s dedication to climate resilience, with the office set to coordinate climate-related initiatives across ministries.
