The Niger State Ministry of Agriculture has advised farmers to commence planting for the 2025 wet season from May 14th to June 6th, 2025.

According to the Permanent Secretary of Niger State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Mathew Ahmed, this follows the release of the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) for 2025 by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

“Eighteen LGAs comprising Lapai, Bida, Bosso, Chanchaga, Edati, Gbako, Gurara, Katcha, Lavun, Mashegu, Mokwa, Munya, Munya, Paikoro, Shiroro, Suleja, Tafa and Wushishi will have an onset in the month of May. While Rijau, Agwara, Borgu, Kontagora, Magama, Mariga and Rafi respectively, will have an onset date in the month of June, 2025,” he said.

Ahmed explained that the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) showed that Lapai LGA out of the 25 LGAs in the state, will have earliest onset on 13th May with 180 days season length amounting to a total of 1,208mm of annual rainfall.

He stated that the SCP further indicated that Rijau LGA will have the longest delayed onset date on 13th June while the LG is expected to record a total of 132 days of the wet season.

“We advise farmers to not only adhere but use the available information as provided by the Seasonal Climate Prediction to plan this year’s wet season farming.as it also revealed that Northern states could experience longer dry spell lasting up to 21 days between June and August.

“Temperature outlook for 2025 will be hotter than the average with intense heat waves expected in January, February, March and May this year.

“This means that Northern states will experience most severe heat condition,” Ahmed disclosed.

Stressing the importance of Seasonal Climate Prediction to improved crop production, he noted that NIMET’s prediction aligns with the United Nations early warning for all initiatives and serves as a vital tool for policy makers and disaster management agency.

Ahmed thanked NIMET for its prediction, while stating that for the first time in Nigeria, millet was grown twice and harvested successfully in the last growing season.

“By the end of last October and November based on the NIMET predictions, farmers were encouraged to plant millet and it was successfully harvested,” the permanent secretary added.

Niger State farmers get green light for 2025 wet season planting