The Director General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Prof. Charles Anosike, has called for enhanced insurance coverage for Nigerian farmers to improve food security and mitigate losses.
During a recent courtesy visit by a delegation from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Prof. Anosike emphasized the critical role of insurance in boosting agricultural productivity and preventing losses caused by climate-related risks. He highlighted that insurance could help shield farmers from the adverse effects of climate change, which often exacerbates existing challenges in the agricultural sector.
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Prof. Anosike praised USAID for recognizing NiMet’s role in the agricultural value chain and for initiating the upcoming Agricultural Insurance and Weather Advisory Services Roundtable, themed “Creating Last-mile Structures for Agricultural Insurance & Weather Advisory Services—A Risk Mitigation and Resilience Measure for Smallholder Farmers.” He urged the USAID team to involve the financial sector in these discussions to integrate climate risk into their risk management strategies.
“Insurance and early warnings are not just about improving productivity; they are crucial for saving lives,” Anosike said, referring to the recent 2024 floods that have caused significant damage and loss of life. He advocated for a pilot insurance scheme for farmers before a broader rollout and assured that NiMet would involve its stakeholders in this initiative.
Dr. Ben Odoemena, Chief of Party, Extension Activity at USAID, underscored the importance of accurate weather information for business operations, including agriculture. He stressed that NiMet’s participation in the roundtable is essential for achieving the objective of integrating weather information and insurance coverage at the grassroots level.
Odoemena acknowledged NiMet’s significant contributions and expressed a need to further scale their efforts. He emphasized the importance of instilling a weather-conscious mindset among smallholder farmers to ensure they are better prepared and informed.
The partnership between NiMet and USAID aims to address the limited penetration of insurance and weather information in rural settings, enhancing resilience and productivity in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
