The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has backed a stronger digital agriculture strategy, positioning climate intelligence as a critical tool for improving food security in Nigeria. The agency said timely weather information can help farmers make better decisions, reduce avoidable losses and build resilience against changing climate conditions.
The Director General/CEO of NiMet, Prof. Charles Anosike, made the position known in his goodwill message at the National Strategic Dialogue on the preparation of the AGROW Component 2.2 National Implementation Strategy and Digital Agriculture Architecture. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security organised the dialogue under the World Bank-supported Nigeria Sustainable Agricultural Value Chain (AGROW) Project.
Digital Agriculture Gains NiMet’s Climate-Smart Backing
The dialogue focused on building what organisers described as “a unified, inclusive and future-ready digital agriculture ecosystem” for a more productive, resilient and food-secure Nigeria. Stakeholders therefore examined how technology, climate information and agricultural services can work together to improve decisions across the farming value chain.
Prof. Anosike said the discussions were important to NiMet because of its mandate to provide weather and climate information that protects lives, supports livelihoods and improves planning. He noted that climate variability, changing rainfall patterns and extreme weather events are increasingly affecting agriculture and making reliable climate information more important.
NiMet already provides Seasonal Climate Predictions, regular weather updates, agrometeorological services and impact-based advisories. These services help farmers make informed decisions on planting, water management and agricultural inputs while reducing losses linked to weather and climate risks.
However, the agency’s message went beyond simply producing climate information. Prof. Anosike emphasised digital agriculture as a pathway for converting weather intelligence into practical, farm-level action, particularly through digital channels that can reach farmers quickly.
Digital Agriculture and Digital Climate Advisories
NiMet highlighted its partnership with Tomorrow.io and MTN on the Digital Climate Advisory Services (DCAS) System. The initiative is designed to provide location-specific weather advisories to farmers through mobile SMS, potentially bringing useful climate information closer to farming communities.
In addition, NiMet is working with the Agricultural Innovation Mechanism for Scale (AIM for Scale) to strengthen the integration of artificial intelligence-based weather forecasting with digital advisory systems. The combination could support more targeted information for farmers as weather patterns become increasingly difficult to predict.
For digital agriculture to deliver meaningful results, however, NiMet stressed that technology must be accessible and trusted by its intended users. Prof. Anosike identified extension services, technology providers, telecommunications companies, community radio and farmer organisations as important partners in achieving effective last-mile delivery.
He also stressed the need to design agricultural digital services around farmers’ actual circumstances. Language, literacy, connectivity, affordability and gender inclusion must therefore be considered when developing and deploying these services.
Farmer participation is equally important. NiMet said farmers should be involved in developing climate services so that digital tools reflect the realities of agricultural communities rather than simply introducing technology without understanding users’ needs.
The agency also commended the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON, for efforts to promote climate-smart agriculture. Prof. Anosike challenged stakeholders at the dialogue to develop a practical, inclusive and measurable roadmap for integrating weather and climate services into agricultural decision-making.
The outcome could strengthen the connection between climate information and agricultural action. For NiMet, digital agriculture is therefore not only about technology but also about making weather intelligence useful, accessible and timely for farmers.
The agency reaffirmed its readiness to provide the technical leadership required to strengthen climate services, support food security and build resilient livelihoods. The position also places reliable climate information at the centre of Nigeria’s push for a more digitally enabled agricultural sector.
