An livestock diagnostic expert, Femi Dairo, has urged local livestock farmers to adopt adequate diagnosis for their animals to prevent losses.

Dairo, the Chief Executive Officer of Rid Agri Ltd., and Business Head Rid Labs, made the call in an interview on Tuesday in Lagos.

He emphasised the need for livestock farmers to stop medicating their animals, while reiterating the importance of training for the farmers.

“Our message has been centred around decelerating antimicrobial resistance, reducing misuse and overuse of drugs, and promoting responsible farming practices.

“Farmers over the years have thought that diagnosis is a cost whereas diagnosis is a risk management strategy.

“Animals die every day from what they cannot control because we live with pathogens. This is because the business of animal farming is science and if you don’t understand the science of it you are going to fail.

“You must understand what losses mean and when it stops. So, our message to the farmers is that they need to please understand the science and business of farming.

“The completion of the two is what will guarantee the profitability of the business,” Dairo said.

According to the expert, farmers’ experiences are not enough to tackle the challenges of microbial resistance in animals.

He, however, stressed the need to engage professionals.

“This is because most farmers are non-professionals, more than 90 per cent lack a form of professional training. The business requires some level of technical guidance and training.

“The farmers may not be able to afford having a resident vet doctor or resident aquaculture professional on their farms but they can deploy the services of people who have a diagnosis as a backup.

“We still have veterinary doctors who prescribe drugs without diagnosis. They do that from experience. But pathogens are learning very fast how to stop drugs from working.

“The question is, are we learning as fast as the pathogens are learning. Without diagnosis, we would not be able to do that.

“The only tool we have is to diagnose before treatment. And that way you can attack whatever case it is per time. So, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for each case you find yourself,” the expert said.

Abia Releases 2026 Climate Outlook, Advises Farmers on Climate-smart Practices

The Abia Government has released its 2026 Climate Outlook and Agricultural Advisory, urging farmers to adopt climate-smart practices for a productive farming season.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr.

Agbaeze said the outlook aligned with the Seasonal Climate Prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), providing farmers across the state with critical guidance for a productive 2026 farming season.

Quoting NiMet, he said Abia was projected to experience above-normal rainfall, with annual totals ranging between 1,800mm and 2,200mm.

He said the rainy season was expected to commence between late March and early April and end between late October and early November.

According to him, the season is projected to last between seven and eight months, supporting multiple cropping cycles.

The commissioner also said that peak rainfall was anticipated between June and September, increasing the risk of flooding, particularly in low-lying areas.

He advised farmers to cultivate raised ridges, plant early-maturing and flood-resistant crop varieties, and ensure proper drainage systems on their farms.

He also urged farmers to engage regularly with extension services for real-time weather updates and technical support.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting farmers with updated cropping calendars, provision of improved and climate-resilient seedlings, and strengthening of extension services statewide.

”The ministry will distribute updated cropping calendars, provide improved and climate-resilient seedlings and strengthen extension services statewide.

”We will partner with NiMet to disseminate timely weather advisories in local languages,” Agbaeze said.

Agbaeze reiterated Gov. Alex Otti’s commitment to agricultural transformation and rural development in the state.

Some agriculture experts have urged local farmers to adopt irrigation farming due to the inconsistent rainfall patterns.

The experts made the recommendation in separate interviews on Wednesday in Lagos.

The recommendation was made in line with the recent Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) forecast on the expected rains in some states and the need for farmers to delay the planting season.

The Chairperson, Nigerian Women in Agriculture, Chahul Ngizan, noted that the infrequent rains and changing weather patterns have made local farmers wary.

“We really do not know what to expect with the changing weather patterns. As we all observed, there was no harmattan from last year till January this year.

“And when there is no harmattan, it is difficult for farmers to have a good harvest. We don’t know if we will have enough rainfall this year.

“I would advise all farmers to adhere to the instructions of NiMet or get irrigation systems. It is just that some areas up north rarely have water.

“We just hope to have a great planting season and a good harvest because of the inconsistent weather patterns,” Ngizan said.

On his part, an agriculture analyst and co-founder Corporate Farmers, Akin Alabi, urged the farmers to invest in irrigation on their farms despite the costs.

“It is hard for us to determine climate conditions these days, climate factors and climate change, so we have to play it in a well-balanced format.

“So, we urge farmers to have irrigation in their farms. It might be expensive but it’s worth it. You can’t predict the weather, that’s the honest truth.

“NiMet will try to give you a forecast, but sometimes that forecast may change because regardless of rainfall or not, it is still dependent on Mother Nature.

“But as humans we have to just be prepared for whatever weather pattern we see.

“It’s advisable to have some form of irrigation on your farm, it doesn’t have to be expensive. There are other irrigation systems now that make use of solar energy,” Alabi said.

He noted that there are solar energy irrigation systems that use sun to ensure adequate water on the farm.

“Or the farmer can just have a well, just dig a well where you can actually get water. But it’s very important at this time and age that farmers have a standard and a standby irrigation system, whether rain comes or not,” the expert said.