NiMet Backs Digital Agriculture Plan to Boost Food Security

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has pledged to strengthen weather and climate information services for farmers under efforts to improve food production and build resilience in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, made the commitment in his goodwill message at a national strategic dialogue on the digital agriculture component of the World Bank-supported Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value Chain (AGROW) Project.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security organised the dialogue to develop the national implementation strategy and digital agriculture architecture for the AGROW Component 2.2.

The meeting brought together stakeholders to examine how digital tools, climate information and technology can improve productivity and help farmers respond to changing weather conditions.

Anosike said the discussions aligned with NiMet’s mandate because weather and climate information remain essential to planning in agriculture and other climate-sensitive sectors.

He noted that changing rainfall patterns, climate variability and extreme weather events continue to create risks for farmers, making timely forecasts and advisories increasingly important.

NiMet provides Seasonal Climate Predictions, routine weather updates, agrometeorological services and impact-based advisories to help farmers determine planting periods and manage water and farm inputs.

Anosike said digital agriculture could help turn this information into practical guidance that reaches farmers at the right time and in a form they can use.

He cited NiMet’s partnerships with Tomorrow.io and MTN on the Digital Climate Advisory Services (DCAS) System as an example.

The system uses mobile SMS to deliver location-specific weather information and advisories to farmers.

NiMet has also partnered with the Agricultural Innovation Mechanism for Scale (AIM for Scale) to strengthen the use of Artificial Intelligence in weather forecasting and digital advisory services.

According to Anosike, expanding these services will require stronger collaboration with agricultural extension workers, technology companies, telecommunications operators, community radio stations and farmer organisations.

He stressed that digital services must reflect the realities of farmers, including their preferred languages, literacy levels, access to connectivity and ability to afford the services.

Gender inclusion, he added, should also form part of the design and delivery of digital agricultural services.

Anosike further called for greater involvement of farmers in developing climate services so that the information provided responds directly to their needs.

He commended the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, for promoting climate-smart agriculture and urged participants to produce a practical and measurable roadmap.

The NiMet chief said the strategy should integrate weather and climate information into decisions across the agricultural value chain.

He expressed optimism that the dialogue would strengthen climate-smart and digitally enabled farming while supporting more resilient livelihoods.

Anosike also reaffirmed NiMet’s readiness to provide the technical expertise required to expand climate services and support Nigeria’s food security goals.