Underlining the importance of the conference, the head of the World Meteorological Organisation, Michel Jarraud, said that "many countries in Africa are very vulnerable to climate variability and indeed climate change."

The host country of the conference was itself hit last year by a severe drought which wiped out some 40 percent of its maize harvest, said the secretary-general of the WMO.

"It's very important that we can explore the best way to strengthen the met services... so that they can support national development," he told journalists.

The first Conference of Ministers Responsible for Meteorology in Africa is due to be held from April 12 to 16.

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