Nigeria: NiMet, MTN, and Tomorrow.io Launch Digital Climate Advisory Services to Boost Agriculture

By : Hikmatu Bilali

Date : mercredi, 29 janvier 2025 13:51

Agriculture remains the largest economic sector in Africa. However, climate variability and extreme weather events pose significant risks, reducing crop yields, increasing post-harvest losses, and threatening livelihoods. Leveraging digital tools could mitigate these challenges.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MTN Nigeria and advanced weather intelligence company Tomorrow.io to develop a Digital Climate Advisory Services (DCAS) System. The initiative, signed on January 24, 2025, at NiMet Headquarters in Abuja, aims to deliver localized, actionable weather advisories to farmers via mobile SMS to enhance agricultural productivity and resilience.

NiMet Director General and CEO, Professor Charles Anosike, emphasized that the partnership aligns with the government’s food security agenda, ensuring farmers receive timely weather updates to make informed decisions.

MTN Nigeria CEO, Karl Toriola, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting government initiatives and highlighted the broader impact of the project on agriculture, emergency management, and the Nigerian economy.

Nigeria is highly vulnerable to climate change, ranking 160th out of 181 countries in the 2020 ND-GAIN Index, which assesses nations based on their exposure to climate risks, global challenges, and their capacity to enhance resilience. This underscores the urgent need for adaptive measures to safeguard its economy and population.

The DCAS system is expected to empower farmers with real-time weather insights, mitigating climate-related risks and strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural sector. As per the MoU, the parties will work together to develop, implement, and test the DCAS platform, delivering weather-based advisories to farmers via SMS notifications.

This initiative represents a convergence of digital technology, climate resilience, and economic development. By leveraging mobile connectivity to deliver climate-smart solutions, Nigeria can modernize its agricultural sector, enhance food security, and build a more resilient economy.

Hikmatu Bilali

 

 

TECH STARS

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.