NiMet And ACReSAL To Launch Digital Precision Agriculture Platform For Nigerian Farmers.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project have announced a groundbreaking partnership to develop a Digital Precision Agricultural Extension (DPAE) platform tailored for smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria. The initiative aims to revolutionise farming practices by providing real-time weather and agricultural data to enhance productivity and resilience.
During a meeting at NiMet’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, ACReSAL’s National Project Coordinator, Mukhtar Y. Tanko, briefed NiMet’s Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Charles Anosike, on the collaboration. Tanko emphasised NiMet’s critical role in the development, deployment, and sustainability of the DPAE platform, which aligns with ACReSAL’s Sub-Component B2 objectives to support farmers in adopting climate-smart rainfed agriculture practices.
“Optimising farm management with weather data is essential for improving agricultural productivity,” Tanko stated. He explained that the Federal Government, through ACReSAL, seeks to deliver a customised digital platform offering farmers real-time information and predictive content, including input recommendations, market updates, and weather forecasts.
The DPAE platform is designed to mobilise and coordinate key stakeholders along the agricultural value chain, including farmers, public extension services, input dealers, traders, processors, and mechanisation service providers. By fostering integration and providing tailored advisory services, the platform aims to empower smallholder farmers to make informed decisions and boost yields in northern Nigeria’s semi-arid regions.
Professor Anosike welcomed the initiative, highlighting the importance of weather and climate information for precision-smart agriculture. “You can’t practice precision-smart agriculture without weather and climate data,” he said. “We have an existing productive relationship with ACReSAL, and we are eager to strengthen this partnership. NiMet must be involved in co-developing an interactive, farmer-friendly weather and climate dashboard.”
The DPAE platform will be piloted and implemented as part of a broader strategy to enhance farmers’ access to extension and advisory services. By leveraging digital technology, the initiative promises to bridge gaps in information access, enabling smallholder farmers to adapt to climate challenges and optimise their operations.
This collaboration marks a significant step towards modernising agriculture in Nigeria, with the potential to transform livelihoods and strengthen food security in the region. Further updates on the platform’s development and rollout are expected as the partnership progresses.
