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In its ongoing initiative to close the information divide between small-scale farmers and climate science, the HEDA Resource Centre has educated and raised awareness among more than 500 farmer leaders, cooperative members, extension workers, and agricultural stakeholders about the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) in local languages across 17 states and all six geopolitical regions of Nigeria.

The recently completed four-day blended training initiative, jointly arranged by the HEDA Resource Centre, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Country Women Association of Nigeria (COWAN), Nigerian Association of Women in Agriculture (NAWIA), and Association of Small Scale AgroProducers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN), aimed to enhance farmers’ access to climate data and boost their capacity to interpret, assess, and apply seasonal climate predictions for better agricultural planning.

The effort also sought to bridge the communication divide between climate predictions, policy debates, and on-the-ground application within local communities.

The initiative intentionally engaged individuals with significant community influence, such as members of farmer cooperatives, extension networks, women’s farmer groups, and local agricultural associations. These participants are anticipated to disseminate the training insights within their communities and promote broader understanding of climate-smart farming methods throughout the 2026 growing season.

The initiative integrated online learning with on-the-ground community involvement. Although the sessions were conducted via the internet, local partners in various states organized and brought participants together at central places where they collectively took part in the training and awareness programs.

This method made sure that agricultural workers without mobile phones, consistent internet connectivity, or knowledge of digital tools were not left out of the initiative.

Commenting on the project, Sulaimon Arigbabu, Executive Secretary of HEDA, pointed out that the divide between climate science and the practical realities faced by farmers in Nigeria is among the country’s most significant and overlooked issues.

“Climate data is only beneficial if those impacted the most can comprehend and utilize it. This training represents our dedication to bridging this gap, not only in English, but also in local languages like Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and Pidgin that our farmers speak and are familiar with,” Arigbabu stated.

The training documented seven sessions conducted across four days, including locations such as Adamawa, Bauchi, Niger, Kaduna, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Benue, Nasarawa, Imo, Abia, Cross River, Bayelsa, Plateau, and Taraba.

The group consisted of small-scale crop farmers, animal rearers, individuals involved in fishing and aquaculture, extension workers, agricultural scientists, cooperatives, and staff from State Departments of Agriculture.

The sessions led participants in exploring the real-world effects of the 2026 SCP on planting schedules and choosing crop varieties, understanding flood risks and early alerts, managing livestock in fluctuating rain patterns, planning for fisheries and aquaculture, conserving soil and water, and implementing methods to reduce losses after harvest.

Classes also emphasized specific steps that farmers can implement before and throughout the planting season to enhance durability and increase food output amid shifting climate circumstances.

HEDA, hence, urged institutions within sub-national entities, especially State Ministries of Agriculture in all 36 states, to continue this momentum by making sure that the 2026 SCP is effectively passed down to local government and community levels before and throughout the planting season.

The organization emphasized that state governments should collaborate more effectively with NiMet to tailor climate forecasts for their particular agricultural regions and utilize state-run radio and broadcast media to connect with farmers who might not be reachable via online platforms.

In the same way, the group called on the Federal Government, via its appropriate agencies, to fund the development of local-level climate information systems and advisory services.

As per HEDA, trained professionals located within agricultural communities can have a significant impact by converting technical weather and climate alerts into actionable advice that farmers can apply during the growing season.

In parallel, the HEDA Resource Centre, working together with the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, has completed a country-wide initiative involving the distribution, education, and awareness campaign regarding the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO). This effort seeks to enhance public knowledge of flood dangers, boost readiness, and encourage proactive measures in at-risk communities throughout Nigeria.

A two-day online event gathered attendees from the six geopolitical regions of Nigeria, such as farmers, agricultural groups, community representatives, media workers, civil society organizations, researchers, humanitarian groups, and staff from Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Water Resources, and Emergency Management Agencies.

The program is a component of continuous attempts to make and spread flood prediction data in forms that are easy to understand, available, and beneficial for communities that frequently experience flooding and climate-related emergencies.

As stated by the HEDA Resource Centre, enhancing public awareness of flood dangers is essential not only for disaster readiness, but also for safeguarding agriculture, rural communities, and food stability throughout Nigeria. The group highlighted that farmers are among the populations most impacted by yearly flooding, with recurring damage to farmlands, fishery areas, livestock, storage systems, and transport networks playing a major role in causing food shortages and financial difficulties.

The awareness and education initiative is therefore created to assist participants in comprehending flood-vulnerable zones, potential effects in their areas, and effective preparedness actions that can minimize damages before and throughout the rainy season.

Commenting on the show, Sulaimon Arigbabu, Executive Secretary of HEDA, emphasized the importance of taking flood information from technical reports and making it part of everyday community understanding.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).