The Women Environmental Programme (WEP) officially launched the Farm Beta Radio Programme on Thursday, November 21, 2024, to provide farmers with timely climate information and sustainable agricultural education.

The virtual inauguration was graced by the Honourable Commissioner for the Ministry of Water Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, Benue State, Honourable Odoh Ugwu, represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Akaa Nyam Thomas. The event attracted representatives from government agencies, civil society organisations, farming groups, and media professionals.

Dr Priscilla Achakpa, Founder and Global President of WEP, and Auvi Priodarshine, Programme Manager for the WomenPower2030 Project under Women Engage for a Common Future (WECF), emphasised the alignment of the initiative with the WomenPower2030 goal of empowering women and feminist networks to combat inequality and promote gender-equal sustainable development. Priodarshine described the programme as a critical lifeline for communities navigating climate and agricultural challenges.

Glory Onyegbule, Director of Applied Meteorological Services at the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), lauded the use of radio to deliver agrometeorological information, citing its extensive reach as over 83% of Nigerian households own a working radio, and more than half of rural farmers rely on it daily. Onyegbule reaffirmed NiMet’s commitment to supporting stakeholders in disseminating vital climate data.

Dr. Iniobong Abiola Awe, Director of the Department of Climate Change at the Federal Ministry of Environment, called the programme a pioneering step towards sustainable development in Nigeria. Similarly, Professor Chinwe Obuaku, Consultant to the Osun State Government on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, represented by Sola Ishola, Special Assistant on Media to the Osun State Governor, highlighted the initiative’s focus on equipping rural and women farmers with tools to address the climate-agriculture nexus.

The Farm Beta Radio Programme, broadcast across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, is designed to enhance agricultural productivity by equipping farmers with strategies to mitigate climate risks and adopt climate-smart practices.

Aisha Sanni
Women Radio 91.7
news@wfm917.com