FGN, IFAD Partner NiMet to Drive Climate-Smart Agriculture Through CSAPR Project
Oru Leonard
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening climate-smart agriculture and building resilience across Nigeria’s agribusiness sector following the launch of the Climate-Smart Agribusiness Partnership for Resilience (CSAPR) Project by the Federal Government in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The project, launched in Abuja on Friday, is a collaborative initiative involving the Federal Government of Nigeria, IFAD, the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Programme, and NiMet. It aims to improve agricultural productivity, strengthen climate resilience, and expand the use of Climate Information Services (CIS) across Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.
Speaking at the launch, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, described the initiative as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of a productive, inclusive, and climate-resilient agricultural sector.
He said the project would integrate Climate Information Services into agribusiness solutions through partnerships involving government agencies, development partners, financial institutions, the private sector, and farmer organizations.
Dr. Ogunbiyi commended NiMet, IFAD, the Gates Foundation, and other stakeholders for their commitment to advancing climate-smart agriculture and resilient food systems. He urged sustained collaboration to expand climate-smart agribusiness opportunities, improve access to financing for farmers, and enhance rural livelihoods.
Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, described the CSAPR Project as a timely initiative that aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, timely, accurate, accessible, and actionable weather, climate, and water-related information remains essential for climate-smart agriculture, sustainable food systems, and resilient agricultural value chains.
Prof. Anosike noted that farmers, agribusinesses, financial institutions, insurers, processors, logistics providers, and investors depend on reliable climate intelligence to make informed decisions, manage risks, protect investments, and boost productivity.
He stressed the importance of translating climate information into simple, localized, and actionable advisories while strengthening public-private partnerships to improve access to climate services for farmers and agribusinesses nationwide.
The NiMet boss reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the project through its Seasonal Climate Prediction, agrometeorological bulletins, impact-based forecasts, early warning advisories, and digital climate advisory platforms.
Also speaking, IFAD Country Director, Ms. Dede Ekoue, praised the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for its leadership and acknowledged NiMet’s technical contributions to the development of the project.
She said the CSAPR Project would promote financially viable public-private partnerships that integrate Climate Information Services into agricultural value chains, enabling farmers and agribusinesses to better adapt to climate variability while improving resilience, productivity, and investment.
Representing the National Programme Coordinator of the SAPZ Programme, Dr. Kabir Yusuf, a programme official highlighted early successes recorded under the initiative, including the installation of automated weather stations in Ogun and Kano States, the commencement of climate information dissemination, and the distribution of digital devices to leaders of farmer organizations to facilitate timely weather advisory services.
The CSAPR Project, financed by the Gates Foundation and implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security through the SAPZ Programme with support from IFAD and NiMet, is expected to strengthen climate resilience, enhance food security, and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers by embedding Climate Information Services into sustainable agribusiness solutions through effective public-private partnerships.
