As part of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) project, the Kwara State Government has kicked off an intensive five-day training program for livestock officers and key agricultural stakeholders, aimed at equipping 100 participants with the skills to interpret weather data, manage climate risks, and support smallholder farmers nationwide.

At the core of the program is a push toward climate-smart agriculture. Participants are being trained to use newly installed automated weather stations, one in each of Kwara’s three senatorial districts, to access real-time forecasts and early warnings. 

The stations will help predict extreme weather events and provide five-day forecasts, allowing farmers to more effectively plan activities such as feeding, grazing, and sheltering livestock.

The second phase of the training will focus on building capacity to read and disseminate climate data within rural communities. 

Trained participants will act as climate information ambassadors, relaying forecasts and early warnings to fellow farmers in nearby areas.

Ehe effort is a timely response to erratic weather patterns that have disrupted food production and animal husbandry across Nigeria. The program is expected to reduce climate-related losses and protect livelihoods by promoting smart agriculture and better access to weather intelligence.

This initiative is part of a broader state strategy to build agricultural resilience, safeguard food systems, and empower small-scale producers to adapt in an increasingly uncertain climate.