By Faridat Salifu
the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has trained 300 stakeholders across Nigeria on the interpretation and application of seasonal climate forecasts to improve agricultural planning and climate risk management.
the virtual training targeted farmers, extension workers, researchers, agribusiness operators and government officials, aiming to strengthen food systems by promoting the use of climate data in daily decision-making.
HEDA’s Executive Secretary, Sulaimon Arigbabu, said the initiative was designed to improve local-level response to climate variability and ensure frontline actors are equipped with actionable climate intelligence.
he said that “as climate change continues to threaten food security and livelihoods in nigeria, it is imperative that those who produce our food understand how to interpret and act on climate forecasts.”
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Arigbabu noted that the training would support more resilient farming, better disaster preparedness, and improved productivity, particularly for smallholder farmers.
Technical sessions were delivered by the nigerian meteorological agency (NIMET) and the nigeria hydrological services agency (NIHSA), which provided data on rainfall patterns, flood risks and climate-health linkages.
Officials from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) also addressed participants on government efforts to scale climate-sensitive agricultural practices.
Participants were grouped into three tracks — cereals/grains/legumes, livestock, and tubers/vegetables — with specialised sessions led by the institute for agricultural research (IAR), nigerian institute of animal science (NIAS), national root crops research institute (NRCRI), and national horticultural research institute (NIHORT).
Aquaculture expert, Toba Tiamiyu, also spoke on how fish farmers can adapt to changing climate conditions, with guidance on water temperature, feed quality and disease management.
The training featured practical exercises on developing seasonal advisories, interpreting forecast maps, and designing crop calendars.
Participants exchanged ideas on how to integrate climate forecasts into existing farm operations and called for more regular briefings ahead of planting seasons.
