The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in partnership with Tomorrow.io, MTN, and other collaborators, has initiated plans to pilot a digital climate advisory system aimed at serving approximately 100,000 farmers in six different states.
This effort was announced during a workshop held on Thursday, where the objective is to assess a model that merges weather predictions with agronomic advice, ensuring that tailored recommendations are sent directly to farmers via their mobile phones.
During the event, NiMet's Director-General, Charles Anosike, emphasized that the workshop's goal was to establish the necessary documentations and technical framework required to commence the pilot phase in one state from each of the six geopolitical zones.
“As we gather here to explore the transformative potential of digital climate advisory systems and co-design, I am reminded of the crucial role that collaboration and innovation play in enhancing climate resilience,” he stated.
Mr. Anosike characterized the Digital Climate Advisory System as more than just a tool for weather forecasting, highlighting that it aims to merge data, expertise, and user-centered design to assist in making decisions concerning agriculture and disaster risk management.
He further detailed that this system utilizes information from various sources and applies advanced analytics to clarify complex meteorological data, asserting that their collaboration with Tomorrow.io would facilitate the creation of a platform that is both globally informed and sensitive to local conditions.
Boniface Akuku, the head of partnerships at Tomorrow.io, indicated that one of the principal challenges was producing precise forecasts along with the ability to translate this information into practical advice for farmers.
Mr. Akuku highlighted that just notifying farmers about expected weather conditions without providing concrete guidance would merely induce anxiety. He emphasized the need to combine weather insights with agronomic strategies that can clearly instruct farmers on the actions to undertake based on anticipated weather changes.
He added that the system would assess weather data in relation to crop development stages and agronomic suggestions before conveying simplified, actionable insights through mobile phones, including basic feature phones and in local dialects.
Miranda Bryan, the CEO of Tomorrow.io’s nonprofit division, mentioned that similar weather-driven advisory services had already been implemented in places like Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia, reaching millions of farmers.
Ms. Bryan noted that nearly six million farmers in Kenya currently benefit from weekly advisories, and they are now expanding to Nigeria to customize the model in collaboration with local stakeholders. The pilot aims to engage about 100,000 farmers, with ambitions for broader outreach contingent on its success.
She stressed that approximately 90 percent of farmers in Africa depend on rainfall, making them acutely vulnerable to climate variations. Decisions regarding planting, fertilizing, and harvesting often hinge on when the rains commence. Furthermore, discussions with NiMet and governmental entities have focused on developing a sustainable strategy for this system beyond initial interventions.
Marcus Ogunbiyi, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, pointed out that smallholder farmers are greatly affected by climate change and need more granular, community-level advisories.
Represented by Deputy Director Iyabo Mustapha, he underlined the necessity for a coordinated approach that translates information to the local level where agricultural activities are conducted, reiterating that farming decisions are made outside offices, necessitating accurate, science-backed support for farmers.
Mr. Ogunbiyi acknowledged that existing partnerships have fostered resilience but emphasized the need for enhanced data integration and collaboration to amplify impact.
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