NiMet predicts late onset, early cessation of rain in 2019

*warns far northern farmers against early planting

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted late onset of rainfall and early cessation of rainfall in most parts of the country in 2019.

NiMet who released the 2019 seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) on Thursday in Abuja said the extreme parts of the north would be the worst hit.

The theme of the 2019 SRP is “weather-ready, climate smart economy: a partway to national development.

Presenting the highlights, Prof. Sani Abubakar Mashi, NiMET’s Director-General advised farmer to delayed planting their crops so they don’t plant twice adding that except farmers plant smart, food yields would be adversely affected in 2019.

“As the year 2019 is anticipated to be an El Niho year, rainfall deficit with varying magnitude is expected for most part of the country, especially northward.

“This is expected to have an impact on the timing of the onset and cessation of the growing season. A shorter length of season is expected with below normal rainfall amounts. However, climate smart agriculture should be the watch word” he said.

The NiMet DG said the prediction showed that “the predicted 2019 onset of the growing season is likely to be delayed in most parts of the country. The earliest onset date is predicted to be from March 7th around the coastal region of the south-south.

“The onset dates are expected to change as we move northwards with areas around Maiduguri, Sokoto, Katsina, Dutse, Potiskum, Kano and Nguru predicted to have onset from June 16th.

“The country is expected to experience late onset in most parts, but this delay is likely to be more evident in the northern states. However, normal onset is expected over coastal and some south-east states” he explained.

He also explained that the “earliest cessation dates are expected to be from 29th September around the north-western parts of the country.

“Most of the north is expected is expected to witness cessation dates within October while around the central parts of the country, the growing season is expected to end between late October and Mid-November 2019.

“Parts of the central and southern states are expected to experience end of season by mid-November while along the coast, the season is expected to end by late December.”

The Minister of State, Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika said “that the early release of this vital information before the beginning of rainy season every year is not only to ensure effective harnessing of the climate resource, but to also guarantee minimal losses from associated hazards, which are becoming quite devastating in this era of Climate Change.”

“It is on records that increase of at least 30 percent agricultural yields can be achieved if the relevant meteorological information is utilized.

“According to World Bank for every dollar invested in early warnings services on weather, about $7 dollars is saved from cost of disaster management” he said.