The Director General of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike has described agricultural extension officers as the critical link between climate services and farmers.
He added that extension professionals translate weather and climate information into practical guidance on planting dates, crop selection, and water management.
Anosike stated this on Friday during a 10-day Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension (CRMAE) Training of Trainers workshop in Abuja.
The training was held in collaboration with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Sasakawa Africa Association, and other partners.
Anosike noted that the training reflected the collective commitment of NiMet and its partners to ensuring that climate information is accessible, understandable, and useful to farmers across Nigeria.
He stressed that the Nigeria-adapted Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension curriculum will strengthen the capacity of extension personnel to deliver climate-informed advisory services.
Citing evidence that effective, localised extension services can increase agricultural productivity by 20–30 percent while reducing vulnerability to climate shocks, he urged participants to cascade the knowledge gained through extension networks, farmer groups, cooperatives, and rural communities.
He added that the programme’s success would ultimately be measured by improved farmer livelihoods, stronger climate resilience, and enhanced national food security.
The NiMet DG, however, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to institutionalizing and promoting the widespread adoption of the Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension curriculum as part of the Agency’s efforts to strengthen climate services for agriculture and contribute to national food security.
Speaking on behalf of the AGRA Country Director, Dr. Esther Ibrahim described climate risk management as an essential component of modern agricultural extension.
She encouraged participants to apply the knowledge acquired during the training to provide farmers with timely, reliable, and actionable climate information that supports informed decision-making and resilient agricultural production.