By Uriel Ihotu
Abuja: The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) is set to collaborate with the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project to develop a Digital Precision Agricultural Extension (DPAE) platform aimed at improving climate-informed decision-making for smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria.
During a strategic meeting at NiMet headquarters in Abuja, ACReSAL’s National Project Coordinator, Mukhtar Y. Tanko, highlighted the importance of NiMet’s expertise in climate data and forecasting as pivotal to the success of the project’s Sub-Component B2, which focuses on enhancing climate-smart rainfed agricultural practices at the household level.
“Our goal is to enable farmers to make better-informed decisions by integrating real-time weather information, customized farming advice, and market intelligence into one accessible digital platform,” Tanko stated. “NiMet is a critical stakeholder in this process.”
He explained that the DPAE platform would deliver personalized and predictive agricultural content, including input recommendations, weather alerts, and market updates, directly to farmers’ devices, empowering them to optimize crop yields and mitigate climate risks.
In response, Professor Charles Anosike, Director General and CEO of NiMet, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting climate-smart agriculture through data innovation and strategic partnerships.
“Precision agriculture cannot thrive without accurate weather and climate information,” Prof. Anosike said. “This partnership builds on our existing collaboration with ACReSAL, and we are eager to contribute to the development of an interactive, user-friendly platform that truly serves the needs of farmers.”
He also emphasized the need for NiMet to co-design the platform’s climate dashboard to ensure its accuracy and usability for grassroots farmers.
The DPAE initiative is part of a broader federal strategy to boost agricultural productivity and resilience in Nigeria’s semi-arid regions. It will also facilitate stronger coordination among key agricultural value chain actors from input dealers and processors to extension agents and market traders, using a digital approach that supports inclusion and sustainability.
Photo Caption:
Left to Right: Mukhtar Y. Tanko, National Project Coordinator, ACReSAL; Prof. Charles Anosike, Director General/CEO, NiMet; and Jonathan Lehe, Chief Strategy Officer, Precision Development (PxD), during a high-level meeting in Abuja to formalize plans for the DPAE platform.
