NiMet predicts planting season to begin February 28

By Fatima Saka

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted February 28, as the onset of planting season for 2022, this was conveyed on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, in Abuja.

The information was contained in the agency’s 2022 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) report, presented by the Aviation Minister, Sen. Hadi Sirika, on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, in Abuja.

The report was presented at an event with the theme: “Strengthening Climate Actions through Timely and Impact-based Climate Prediction for Economic Recovery”.

According to NiMet, the earliest onset of the planting season is expected to begin by Feb. 28, in the coastal parts of the country.

“While the onset of rainfall is expected to commence between April and May in the central states and eventually within June to July in the northern states.

“The onset of the planting season is predicted to be normal over most parts of Nigeria with a few areas having it earlier while some areas having it delayed,” the report said.

The agency predicted rainfall cessation dates across most parts of the county in 2022 to be near the long-term average conditions.

Also NiMet anticipated that the gap between the onset and cessation dates would be regarded as safe periods for the planting of various crops in accordance with their cropping calendars.

The agency however anticipated the growing season to last between 250 to 300 days in southern parts of the country, 100 to 200 days in the North.

Meanwhile, in the report, the areas around Kwara, Oyo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Benue, Bayelsa, and Rivers are likely to experience shorter than normal length of growing season.

“For the annual total rainfall, the prediction indicates that the annual rainfall amount is expected to be normal in most parts of the country.

“The annual rainfall amount is expected to range from 390 mm in the North to over 2,790 mm in the South.

“Annual rainfall amount ranging from 390 mm to 790mm is anticipated in some parts of Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Katsina and Sokoto states,” the report said.

Likewise, states envisaged by NiMet to have total rainfall include Nasarawa, Taraba, Kogi, Benue, FCT, Ekiti, Osun and Oyo with record of 1,190 mm to 1,590.

It, however, forecast dry spells from May to August, noting that moderate dry spell would persist for 15 days in Adamawa, Benue, Kogi, Ekiti, Kwara, Niger, FCT, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi and Gombe.

Other areas to be affected include parts of Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, while Nasarawa and Plateau states are to experience a severe dry spell for 20 days or longer.

On temperature, NiMet predicts daytime and night-time temperature for January to April where northern part would experience cooler days in January and February, while South would have warmer nights.

“Also warmer days over North and cooler nights around South is predicted for the month of March,’’ the report said.

Sen. Sirika also called on governors and legislators to partner with NiMet to take weather predictions to the grassroots.

According to him, such effort will assist local farmers and common Nigerians to have more access to weather reports.

“Just like previous years, the 2022 SCP document has been translated into three major languages – Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo to encourage wider use in the country.

“This is in addition to efforts already in progress to downscale forecast to states and local government levels; we shall continue with aggressive drives towards getting predictions with states and local governments throughout the country.

“I therefore call on our executive governors and legislators to partner with the NiMet for this downscaling efforts,” he said.

In addition he said forecasts and advisories are very helpful in decision making by all stakeholders including policy makers will be an understatement.

He further said the 2022 edition of the SCP came with a new document titled: “Executive Summary for Policy Makers“ which was put together to assist policy makers like ministers and governors.

“Others to benefit from the document are legislatures and executives of weather and climate-related MDA`s and other organisation (public and private).

“They are to take informed decisions that will minimise or prevent weather disaster risks and enhance socio-economic production and growth in 2022,“ he said.
Prof. Mansur Matazu, the Director-General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), stated that the agency produced SCP annually in fulfilment of its statutory responsibility to advise government and people of Nigeria on all aspects of weather and climate.

“NiMet produces these forecasts using state-of- the-art forecasting tools and contemporary scientific knowledge.

“The information presented in the SCP publication is relevant for policy formation, planning and decision making by operators, stakeholders and individuals in both private and public sectors in Nigeria.

“The forecasts are particularly useful for operators in weather-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, aviation, construction, water resources, health, trade and tourism among others.”