100 farmers from the 17 local government areas in Enugu state have been trained in climate-smart agricultural practices to mitigate agrarian losses.

The workshop aims to educate farmers on the best practices for agronomy, including seedlings, planting, and harvesting times, and safeguard crops, farmers, and their families from adverse weather, natural disasters, and diseases.

The workshop on “Downscaling of 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction for Enugu State Farmers” was organised by the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation in partnership with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET).

Mr. Patrick Ubru, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-industrialization, opened the workshop in Enugu on Friday 4th of April and stated that the farmers who took part would be part of the trainers who would further step down the training. 

According to him, the 100 registered farmers participating will serve as trainers and ambassadors for disseminating knowledge and best practices in climate-smart agriculture to farmers in the 17 council areas.

“Their experiences and insights will be invaluable as we implement these innovative agricultural strategies and step it down to each farmer and their farmland.

“Our mission to transform Enugu State into the food basket of Nigeria and an export hub is bolstered by robust partnerships with private investors.

“We have signed partnership agreements with the following private partners: Pragmatic Palm Ltd, Biosources and Technology Ltd, Ugwu Anama Farm and Fungtai Engineering Company LTD.

“Others are Atletico Farm Concepts Ltd, Whit Rabbit Agro Concept Limited, and the National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN).

“More partners are in the pipeline for both rehabilitation of existing farms and establishment of new ones,” he said.

Ubru said that the state government, its partners and the people were cultivating vast areas of land and developing produce cities that would serve as centres of excellence in agriculture.

“These collaborations are essential as we strive to create value chains that not only enhance production but also improve the livelihoods of our farmers.

“Under the leadership of His Excellency Dr. Peter Mbah, we envision a future where Enugu State is synonymous with agricultural prosperity.

“Our goal is to feed the people of Enugu and beyond while establishing our state as a key player in the national and international agricultural markets.

“Today’s event is not just about climate predictions; it is about equipping you, our farmers, with the knowledge and tools necessary to adapt to changing climatic conditions.

“In a world where climate change poses significant challenges to agriculture, we must stay informed and proactive,” he said.

The commissioner urged the participants to take full advantage of the workshop and use the information to implement best practices that enhanced the state’s agricultural resilience.

Ubru expressed gratitude to farmers, especially youth and women, private partners, and stakeholders, for their unrelenting commitment to the development of Enugu State.

The Director of Applied Meteorological Services, Mrs Glory Onyegbule, in NiMET, said that according to the 2025 rainfall prediction, Enugu State would have a long stretch of abundant rainfall between April and November.

“However, farmers should start planting when there must have been a rainfall series and the ground is saturated with enough water. This should be so since most farmers in the state depend on rain feed, a sustained type of agriculture.

“This will ensure better and bumper food harvest for direct consumption, local market and foreign exchange earnings as well as reduce or eliminate losses due to wrong rainfall or climatic timing,” Onyegbule said.

In support of this, Prof. Ifeanyi Enete, Director of the Institute for Maritime Studies at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, stated that implementing Climate Smart Agriculture was a contemporary worldwide best practice that improved knowledge of modern agriculture.

The ministry’s permanent secretary, Mr Victor Ngwu, encouraged farmers in the state to embrace the new knowledge and alter their farming methods to prevent losses and guarantee ongoing farming profitability.  

Source: NAN

Image Credit: Peoples Gazette