NiMet, Tomorrow.io Hold Workshop to Boost Climate Advisory for Farmers

NiMet, Tomorrow.io Hold Workshop to Boost Climate Advisory for Farmers

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), in collaboration with Tomorrow.io, has commenced a five-day co-design workshop to refine the Digital Climate Advisory Service (DCAS) Decision Tree aimed at strengthening climate resilience for Nigerian farmers.

The workshop, which runs from February 12 to 16, 2026, marks a key milestone in the partnership between both organisations to develop tailored climate advisories that will help farmers make informed decisions on planting and harvesting.

According to NiMet, the exercise is designed to integrate feedback from farmers and expert insights into the DCAS Decision Tree to ensure that advisories are practical, localized and easy to apply.

Participants at the workshop include officials from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, and representatives of farmer development groups.

The collaboration is expected to align NiMet’s localized 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) with specific farming activities across the country.

The focus of the workshop is the development of a Crop Decision Tree framework that will generate automated and actionable advisories for different climate scenarios such as prolonged dry spells, delayed rainfall onset and early seasonal rains.

The system is expected to guide farmers on when to plant, irrigate or harvest, thereby reducing risks linked to adverse weather conditions and improving agricultural productivity.

Brian Miranda, CEO representative of Tomorrow.io, commended the Director-General of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, for what he described as strategic leadership in strengthening Nigeria’s hydrometeorological services.

He noted that NiMet’s adoption of artificial intelligence in meteorology would enhance early warning systems for extreme weather events and improve the agency’s capacity to protect communities.

In his remarks, Prof. Anosike described the climate advisory initiative as a game changer for Nigerian farmers. He said the service is designed to support farmers in their daily activities by providing weather-based guidance that is simple and easy to understand.

The workshop will continue with technical sessions where participants will jointly develop the DCAS Decision Tree, a tool tailored to address key challenges faced by local farmers.

The framework is expected to combine expert knowledge with practical field feedback to deliver actionable advice for crop and livestock management based on climate information.

Stakeholders believe that the initiative will not only enhance farm-level decision-making but also contribute to national food security and climate resilience efforts.