The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) CropWatch report for October has revealed mixed agricultural outcomes, highlighting reduced rainfall, high temperatures, and unstable vegetation conditions.
The report was signed by Mrs. Helen Awe-Peter of NASRDA’s Strategic Space Applications Department on Thursday in Abuja.
It reviewed Nigeria’s agricultural performance between June and September, the primary growing period for maize, rice, and other staple crops.
According to CropWatch, the main maize season in the North progressed from sowing in June to harvesting in September. The second maize cycle was harvested in August and replanted in September. In the South, maize was harvested in July and replanted in August, with the growing season extending through September.
Rice growth also peaked during this period. Irrigated rice was harvested in August and re-sown in September, while rain-fed rice was planted in June, matured through July and August, and harvested in September.
The report noted that actual rainfall in 2025 fell below both the 15-year average and the 2024/2025 forecasts, indicating a pronounced dry season. The shortage is expected to affect water availability, irrigation, and crop yields.
CropWatch advised farmers to adjust cropping calendars or adopt drought-tolerant crop varieties. It further noted that the 2025 season posed significant climatic challenges, with rainfall deficits and rising temperatures impacting crop growth, biomass production, and land use.
The report recommended strengthening climate-smart agriculture practices, improving water management, and providing targeted support to help farmers mitigate the effects of adverse weather on food production.
NASRDA also reported that it collaborated with the Aerospace Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIR-CAS) in 2023 to implement the CropWatch Nigeria Innovative Programme. The initiative provides timely agricultural information to improve crop production through space science and technology.
