A group, Kwara Must Change (KMC), yesterday blamed the major farming disaster in Asa communities, Asa Local Council of state, on what it described as faulty Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), which thousands of farmers had relied upon for planting decisions.

Convener of the group, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, described the forecast as “a huge failure” with devastating consequences for food security, rural livelihoods and farmer confidence.

NiMet’s 2025 prediction projected that rainfall in Asa would begin on May 7 and end on November 18, giving farmers nearly 195 days of rain to cultivate their crops. The reality, however, was dramatically different.

After early showers in May, rainfall stopped abruptly in June, disappeared entirely in July, and returned only twice in August. Consistent rains resumed in September, leaving a three-month drought during the peak growing season.

The unprecedented pattern destroyed crops across Asa, wiping out the investments of farmers, who had already spent heavily on land preparation, seedlings and fertilisers. Many are now counting their losses in what they describe as “the worst season in living memory.”

KMC, which monitors governance and social development in Kwara, expressed alarm at the scale of devastation, accusing NiMet of failing the very farmers it was meant to support.

Hamzat said the “forecasting failure” went beyond scientific error and bordered on policy negligence. His words: “NiMet’s failure to capture the critical three-month cessation of rain between June and August is not just a technical oversight, but a disaster of national importance. Agriculture is the lifeline of Kwara’s rural economy, and when institutions fail at such a critical point, the consequences are far-reaching.”

The group demanded an urgent explanation from both NiMet and the Federal Government, insisting that farmers deserve accountability and corrective measures to prevent a repeat of the crisis.

It also urged the Kwara State government to provide immediate relief packages for the affected farmers, warning that food shortages and worsening poverty could result if support is delayed.

In addition, the group called for the establishment of localised weather monitoring systems across the state to complement national forecasts, arguing that grassroots data could improve reliability and restore farmer confidence.