By Abbas Nazil
The Women Environmental Programme (WEP), a non-governmental organisation, has trained 100 women farmers in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State on climate education and sustainable agricultural practices to strengthen their resilience to climate change and improve their livelihoods.
The initiative also seeks to indirectly benefit more than 1,000 households by equipping women farmers with knowledge and practical skills to adapt to changing weather conditions, improve farming methods and reduce post-harvest losses.
WEP Programme Lead, Damaris Uja, disclosed this during the training held on Wednesday in Doma, explaining that the programme was designed to help women understand the effects of climate change and adopt farming practices that could minimise its impact on agricultural production.
She said the training was organised under the organisation’s project, “Strengthening Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livelihood for Rural Women,” funded by Irish Aid with support from the Government of Ireland.
Uja explained that women farmers were increasingly experiencing the consequences of rising temperatures and irregular rainfall patterns, making climate education essential for improving agricultural productivity and protecting their livelihoods.
She stressed the importance of ensuring that farmers have access to reliable weather forecasts and seasonal climate information to guide decisions on when to plant their crops.
According to her, many farmers begin planting immediately after the first rainfall without understanding whether subsequent rains will be sufficient to support their crops, exposing them to potential losses when rainfall becomes irregular.
She said the organisation invited officials from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency to educate participants on how to access and use weather information, including the agency’s seasonal climate calendar, to make informed agricultural decisions.
Uja identified limited access to relevant weather information, particularly seasonal forecasts, as one of the major challenges confronting women farmers in rural communities.
She explained that the 100 beneficiaries were selected through community engagement and data collected from five communities in Doma Local Government Area, with community leaders helping to identify women actively involved in farming.
The programme also prioritised inclusion by ensuring that women with disabilities were represented among the beneficiaries.
Uja noted that women with disabilities were frequently overlooked in agricultural initiatives because of assumptions about their ability to participate in farming, despite their involvement in agricultural activities.
During a presentation titled “Climate Education,” retired Director of Climate Change at the Nasarawa State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Angbashi Ishaku, emphasised the need for farmers to follow seasonal climate information when planning their agricultural activities.
He explained that the training was intended to improve participants’ understanding of climate change, its effects on farming, and practical measures for reducing losses associated with unpredictable rainfall and changing weather conditions.
Ishaku highlighted the importance of using climate information to guide planting decisions and strengthen farmers’ ability to respond to changing environmental conditions.
Some participants, including Alheri Joseph and Asheazi Nasara, commended the organisation for the training, saying it had improved their understanding of climate-smart agriculture and the importance of proper timing in planting and harvesting.
They also highlighted the value of improved storage management in reducing post-harvest losses and preserving agricultural produce.
The initiative is expected to help participating women make better-informed farming decisions, strengthen household livelihoods and improve their capacity to cope with the effects of climate change.
