The Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika has inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee to review the impact of Season Rainfall Prediction (SRP) by the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMET) from 2015-2018.
While inaugurating the committee on Monday in Abuja, Sirika said the “prediction which is very scientific and exact, are extremely important and beneficial to what we do, like how to plan cities and build in such a way that stands the weather condition, but the most important one is our ability to feed our selves by knowing when to plant and harvest the type of crops at what particular time in the season”.
In a statement made available to the media by Sani Datti for Director Public Affairs, the Minister stated that “we are acquiring capability through NiMET to cascade and drop it down within meters and inches of accuracy”, noting that “in 2017, some farmers in Sokoto came to testify that from the prediction and the advice the got from government, they were able to make good harvest for the season but unfortunately, others who didn’t follow the advice had losses” said Sirika.
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According to the Minister, the committee’s Terms of Reference include: Examining the level of awareness of stakeholders (especially farmers) on the SRP; Compare and contrast the agricultural production and SRP within the period of 2015-2018 and Examine the consumption vis a vis production of agricultural products on the nation’s economy within the period.
He urged the committee members to take the job as a national assignment and put in all diligence as Sirika also charged them to conclude their review on time.
In his remark, the Chairman of the committee and Director Planning Research and Statistics, Mohammed Shehu pledged that the members will work assiduously and deliver as expected.
He thanked the minister for the opportunity to serve in the committee whose assignment touches the life of the average Nigerian.
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