| CROSS RIVER STATE FARMER WEATHER GUIDE
2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction |
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This information is sourced from the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction produced by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet)Analysis by: HEDA Resource Centre |
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🌧 CROSS RIVER STATE FARMING WEATHER GUIDE 2025
Whether you grow crops or raise animals, this information will help you make good decisions. Let’s go through it step by step.
RAIN PATTERNS
- Coastal Areas (Longest Rainy Season)
Places like Calabar South, Bakassi, Akpabuyo:
🌧 First Rain: March 6-18
☀️ Last Rain: December 17
📅 Growing Days: 285-287 days
💧 Total Rain: 2700-2845mm
What This Means:
- You can farm almost all year round
- Be ready for very heavy rains that may cause flooding
- Good for crops like cassava, plantain, and water yam
- Middle Zones (Long Rainy Season)
Places like Akamkpa, Biase, Odukpani:
🌧 First Rain: March 12-18
☀️ Last Rain: December 13-15
📅 Growing Days: 273-281 days
💧 Total Rain: 2439-2521mm
What This Means:
- Long growing season but shorter than coastal areas
- Watch for soil washing away (erosion) on slopes
- Good for cocoa, oil palm, and maize
- Northern Areas (Shorter Rainy Season)
Places like Obudu, Ogoja, Bekwarra:
🌧 First Rain: March 31 – April 3
☀️ Last Rain: December 2-4
📅 Growing Days: 243-247 days
💧 Total Rain: 1881-1953mm
What This Means:
- Shorter season than southern areas
- Need to plant at right time
- Good for rice, yam, and groundnuts
DRY SPELLS TO WATCH FOR
What is a Dry Spell?
This is when rain stops for many days during rainy season, making crops suffer.
When to Expect Them:
April-May Dry Spell:
- Will last about 10 days
- Most dangerous for new maize and vegetable farms
August Break (Little Dry Season):
- Starts July 21-31
- Lasts 10-14 days
- Will affect flowering cocoa and fruiting crops
BEST CROPS FOR EACH ZONE
For Coastal Farmers:
Plant cassava (can handle heavy rain)
Grow water yam in wet areas
Try upland rice in better-drained spots
For Middle Zone Farmers:
Cocoa does well here
Plant oil palm seedlings
Maize grows well if planted early
For Northern Farmers:
Yam grows best here
Plant groundnuts on well-drained land
Rice does well in low-lying areas
PROTECTING YOUR FARM
Before Heavy Rains:
Build small ridges across slopes to stop soil washing away
Plant cover crops like melon to protect soil
Clear drainage paths around your farm
During Dry Spells:
Use mulch (dry leaves/grass) to keep soil wet
Water young plants in morning or evening
Don’t plant new seeds during dry periods
CARE FOR YOUR ANIMALS
Poultry Farmers:
Keep chicken houses dry during heavy rains
Watch for more diseases in wet weather
Fish Farmers:
Strengthen pond walls before heavy rains
Cover ponds during heaviest rains
Goat/Sheep Farmers:
Provide dry resting areas
Deworm animals before rainy season starts
Coastal farmers – prepare for very heavy rains
SECTION 5: WHERE TO GET HELP
NiMet Contact for Cross River:
📞 Mr. J. Iyanam
☎️ 08059740971
📩 Email: j.iyanam@nimet.gov.ng, jiyanam@yahoo.com
🌍 To download the SCP 2025, visit NiMet website: https://www.nimet.gov.ng/scp
Remember:
- Share this information with fellow farmers
- Call for help if you notice unusual weather
- Attend local agriculture extension meetings
- Ask Questions: If you don’t understand something, call the NiMet number.
Social Media
X: @nimetnigeria
LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube: @Nigerian Meteorological Agency
Instagram: officialnimetng
Summary of Predicted Onset Date, Cessation Date, Length of Season and Annual Rainfall Amounts for States and Local Government Areas for Cross River state
| LGA | Start Date | End Date | Rainy Days | Annual Rainfall (mm) |
| Abi | 23-Mar | 8-Dec | 260 | 2191 |
| Akamkpa | 15-Mar | 13-Dec | 273 | 2439 |
| Akpabuyo | 18-Mar | 17-Dec | 285 | 2705 |
| Bakassi | 6-Mar | 17-Dec | 287 | 2737 |
| Bekwarra | 3-Apr | 2-Dec | 243 | 1881 |
| Biase | 18-Mar | 11-Dec | 268 | 2347 |
| Boki | 28-Mar | 5-Dec | 252 | 2035 |
| Calabar Municipal | 10-Mar | 15-Dec | 281 | 2611 |
| Calabar South | 7-Mar | 17-Dec | 285 | 2702 |
| Etung | 22-Mar | 9-Dec | 262 | 2219 |
| Ikom | 25-Mar | 7-Dec | 257 | 2123 |
| Obanliku | 31-Mar | 4-Dec | 247 | 1953 |
| Obubra | 24-Mar | 7-Dec | 258 | 2151 |
| Obudu | 2-Apr | 3-Dec | 245 | 1916 |
| Odukpani | 12-Mar | 14-Dec | 277 | 2521 |
| Ogoja | 1-Apr | 3-Dec | 246 | 1944 |
| Yakur | 22-Mar | 9-Dec | 242 | 2225 |
| Yala | 1-Apr | 3-Dec | 246 | 1928 |
