As part of the national level dialogue to set the agenda for the forthcoming United Nations (UN) Global Food Systems Summit, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) will convene a virtual meeting of experts and key stakeholders on Thursday, 22 April 2021, to beam the searchlights on the critical role of agro-meteorological information services and how it can be optimized to reduce the vulnerability of especially small-scale women, men and youth farmers to climate change.
In a statement issued in Lagos by the organisation and signed by Mr. Sulaimon Arigbabu, the Executive Secretary, noted “Our global systems are profoundly stressed from many challenges among which are climate change, conflicts and lately the COVID-19 pandemic. The global food systems are vulnerable and badly hit by these stressors. In Nigeria, our agriculture sector and the entire food distribution system is under threat and may unleash an unbearable food crisis on the country. Whereas everyone agrees that climate change, violent conflicts and the pandemic are urgent factors that must be addressed, not enough attention is placed on the importance of propagating the use of agro-meteorological information to reduce the negative impact of climate change.”
According to Arigbabu, “This is why HEDA Resource Centre is organizing this dialogue and tailoring it to address the critical role of agro-meteorological information services in addressing these challenges,” he added.
The statement added that the event which is scheduled to hold at 10am via Zoom is titled: “Enhancing agro-meteorological information services delivery for resilient food systems in Nigeria: challenges, prospects and partnerships,” and it will be moderated by Ms. Ayoola Kassim of Channels Television.
The event is prepared to feature seasoned experts and key stakeholders including Prof. Mansur Bako Matazu, the Director-General/CEO of NiMet who will deliver the keynote address. Panellists at the dialogue will include: Engr. Sheu Bello (MNI), Director, Agric Land and Climate Management Services (FMARD); African Farmer Mogaji, Chairman of the LCCI Agric Group; Madam Hadiza Yaro, Business Development Manager for East-West Seeds, Nigeria; and Professor Olukayode Oladipo of the Department of Geography, University of Lagos.
The event will also welcome the Country Director of Oxfam in Nigeria, Mr Constant Tchona; the National Convener, UN Food Systems Summit Dialogue, Mrs Olusola Idowu; Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Nasarawa State, Professor Alanana O. Otaki; and Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Kebbi State, Hon. Maigari Abdullahi Dakingari; among others, the statement reads.
HEDA said: “Recalling our extensive work with the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in 2019 and 2020, we are aware that at the heart of strengthening the food systems in Nigeria lies the ability to communicate timely agrometeorological information to every farmer. Through our work, we have been able to demonstrate that communicating timely and usable climate information together with knowledge of good agricultural practices, can help farmers and the food production system to be resilient to climatic shocks.”
Therefore, the organisation added, “in furtherance of our work on the issue area, the objectives of this dialogue are to: understand the barriers to developing/obtaining value-chain specific climate information; discuss the barriers to the flow of agrometeorological information from NiMet to the last mile farmer; and make recommendations for all relevant stakeholders required to build the resilience of the Nigerian food system to climate shocks while also mitigating climate change.” It further invited other stakeholders to join the conversation by registering for the event via a link available on the organisation’s social media accounts below;
Twitter: @HEDAgenda
Instagram: HEDAgenda, and
Facebook: HEDA Resource Centre.
