NiMet calls for insurance coverage for farmers to bolster food security
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Professor Charles Anosike, has emphasized the need for insurance coverage for Nigerian farmers to enhance food security in the country.
His remarks came during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to his office in Abuja.
During the meeting, Professor Anosike highlighted the importance of NiMet’s role in providing early warnings and weather advisories, which are crucial not only for agricultural productivity but also for saving lives.
He stressed that integrating climate risk into financial institutions’ operations and risk management could significantly benefit the agricultural sector, particularly through the development of an agricultural insurance scheme for farmers.
“NiMet does a lot of work in early warnings,” said Professor Anosike. “When we talk about insurance or early warnings, it’s not just about the productivity of farmers. It’s also about saving lives. Lives have already been lost in the 2024 flood. Let’s keep in mind that early warnings save lives.”
Professor Anosike also urged USAID to include the financial sector in the forthcoming Agricultural Insurance and Weather Advisory Services Roundtable, themed “Creating Last-mile Structures for Agricultural Insurance & Weather Advisory Services – A Risk Mitigation and Resilience Measure for Smallholder Farmers.”
He suggested that a pilot insurance scheme be rolled out for farmers before expanding it to the public sector, and he committed NiMet’s support in ensuring the roundtable’s success.
“Climate change is a threat multiplier, and it compels us to do things differently,” Anosike added. “We will participate in all aspects of the roundtable to ensure the success and achievement of the set objectives.”
Professor Anosike further revealed that NiMet plans to introduce a series of training programs on weather, water, and climate science aimed at building capacity among its stakeholders and fostering a unified approach to climate challenges.
Dr. Ben Odoemena, Chief of Party, Extension Activity of USAID, and leader of the delegation, expressed gratitude to Professor Anosike for the collaboration.
He emphasized the critical role NiMet plays in achieving the objectives of the proposed roundtable and enhancing agricultural practices across Nigeria.
“Climate change is here,” Dr. Odoemena noted. “If you are doing business and you don’t know whether it’s going to rain today or tomorrow, then you are not in business. This applies not only to agriculture but across every aspect of life. The role of NiMet is quite strategic in achieving this objective, and the proposed stakeholders’ roundtable will strongly complement NiMet’s services.”
Dr. Odoemena highlighted the need for increased insurance coverage and weather information dissemination in rural areas, where many smallholder farmers currently lack access to such critical resources.
In concluding, he called for greater awareness among farmers about the importance of weather forecasts in planning their agricultural activities, stating, “That consciousness has to be instilled in the smallholder farmer. That is the only way we can know that we are on track in agriculture.”
