No fewer than 100 farmers from the 17 Local Government Areas in Enugu State on Friday received training on Climate Smart Agriculture to mitigate agricultural losses.
The workshop is aimed to enlighten farmers on best agronomy, seedlings and planting/harvest periods as well as protection of crops and the farmer and family against harsh weather, disasters and sicknesses.
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 collaboration with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET).
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Declaring open the workshop on Friday in Enugu, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation, Mr Patrick Ubru, said that participating farmers would be part of trainers meant to further stepdown the training.
According to him, the 100 registered farmers participating will serve as trainers and ambassadors for the dissemination of knowledge and best practices in the Climate Smart Agriculture to farmers in each of the 17 council areas.
“Their experiences and insights will be invaluable as we work together to implement these innovative agricultural strategies and step it down to each farmer and his or her 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.
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“We have signed partnership agreements with the following private partners; Pragmatic Palm Ltd, Bio-sources 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 centers 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 provided to implement best practices that enhanced the state’s agricultural resilience.
Ubru expressed gratitude to farmers especially the youth and women, private partners, and stakeholders for their unrestingly commitments to the development of Enugu State.
Speaking, Mrs Glory Onyegbule, Director, Applied Meteorological Services in the NiMET, said that Enugu State, according to the 2025 rainfall prediction, would have ample and long stretch of abundant rainfall between April and November.
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“However, farmers should start planting when there must have been series of rainfall and the ground saturated with enough water. This should be so since most farmers in the state depend on rain feed, 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.
Corroborating, Prof. Ifeanyi Enete, Director, Institute for Maritime Studies of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, said that adoption of Climate Smart Agriculture was a current global best practice and it opened up better understanding of modern agriculture.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Victor Ngwu, urged farmers in the state to adopt the new learning and modify their farming practices to check losses and ensure constant profitability in their farming business.
