The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises, Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project in Abia, on Wednesday, sensitised farmers and agri-entrepreneurs to the 2026 seasonal climate prediction and its implications for various agricultural commodities.

The programme, which took place in Umuahia, was carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

The project drew participants with registered enterprises from 10 local government areas (LGAs) and 100 communities across the state where the project operates.

The state project coordinator, Uchenna Onyeizu, described the programme as a step-down exercise to educate farmers on the appropriate planting windows for each LGA, based on the climate forecast.

Mr Onyeizu, represented by the state agribusiness promotion officer, Godwin Chukwuekezie, said the initial training was organised by the project’s national office in Cross River.

He emphasised the need for farmers to know when to commence and end farming activities, including “how many crop cycles they can run in a year, based on the available window period”.

He further said that the training was also vital for livestock farmers to understand weather patterns and adopt measures to protect their stock during extreme heat.

He said that desk officers would further mainstream the awareness to the LGAs and “LIFE-ND incubators because they need this information at every level”.

Mr Onyeizu lauded NiMet for its collaboration but expressed concern over the late release of the farming calendar.

He urged the agency to publish the information early to prevent wrong farming decisions.

He also called for the state government’s intervention in training and sensitising farmers to the seasonal predictions.

Mr Onyeizu said that about 70 per cent of Abia residents were farmers, who needed the data to increase the state’s food basket.

Also speaking, the Environment and Climate Change Specialist, LIFE-ND, Chidozie Kanu, said the exercise was organised “to ensure beneficiary farmers understand the 2026 onset and cessation dates ”.

Mr Kanu explained that onset refers to when rainfall begins, while cessation marks the normal end of the rains.

He said that LIFE-ND collaborates with institutions like NiMet to downscale climate information to beneficiaries.

He commended NiMet for improving the timing of this year’s release compared to previous years but urged the agency to do better.

He argued that the prediction “is supposed to be out at most by February of every year ”.

A poultry farmer from Abayi Ohanze in Obingwa LGA, Chika Macdonald, who participated in the exercise, thanked the organisers for giving insights into the programme.

Mr Macdonald said she gained valuable insights to improve her livestock and crop production.

LIFE-ND is an initiative of the federal government, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The initiative targets poverty reduction, job creation, sustainable income, and food sufficiency in the nine Niger Delta states.

(NAN)