Women farmers in Nasarawa State were trained in climate-smart agriculture practices

The event took place in the Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. The project, titled "Strengthening Climate Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods for Rural Women," is organized under the Women Environmental Programme (WEP) initiative with funding from Irish Aid and the support of the Irish government. WEP Programme Manager Damaris Ugwu stated that the project is designed to help woman farmers understand climate change issues and reduce its negative impact on their farming.

During the training, experts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) briefed participants on how to obtain up-to-date weather data. As Damaris Ugwu noted, due to a lack of information on the climate seasonal calendar, farmers often start sowing after the first rain without receiving further precipitation. Data collected during community events in five communities of Doma LGA were used to select the participants. The program covered not only able-bodied women but also women with disabilities, and is designed to indirectly impact more than 1,000 households.

During the presentation on "Climate Education," Angbashi Ishaku, former Director of Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of the State, emphasized the need to strictly follow the climate seasonal calendar to prevent losses due to unstable weather conditions. Event participants Alheri Joseph and Asheazi Nasara noted the usefulness of the acquired knowledge on climate-smart agriculture, correct timing of planting, harvesting, and storage management to reduce post-harvest losses.