NiMet, Tomorrow.io Launch High-Level Workshop to Strengthen Digital Climate Advisory for Nigerian Farmers
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has partnered with Tomorrow.io to convene a five-day co-design workshop aimed at refining a new Digital Climate Advisory Service (DCAS) Decision Tree, a tool designed to enhance climate resilience and productivity for farmers across Nigeria.
The workshop, running from 12 to 16 February 2026, represents a major step in the collaboration between both organisations to modernise climate information delivery for agriculture.
It is expected to integrate farmer feedback and technical expertise into a decision-making framework that will produce tailored advisories, helping farmers determine optimal planting and harvesting periods based on seasonal weather patterns.
Participants at the technical session include representatives from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, and farmer development groups, all of whom are contributing sector-specific insights.
Officials say this multi-stakeholder approach is essential to ensure the system reflects real-world farming challenges and aligns with national agricultural priorities.
Central to discussions is the development of a Crop Decision Tree framework that integrates NiMet’s localised 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction with farm-level activities.
By aligning climate science with operational farming decisions, organisers believe the platform will transform how weather intelligence is used in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The proposed system is designed to generate automated, actionable advisories based on different climate scenarios, including delayed rainfall onset, early seasonal rains, or prolonged dry spells. These alerts will guide farmers on when to plant, irrigate, apply inputs, or harvest, thereby reducing exposure to weather-related losses.
According to stakeholders, the technology is expected to enhance both productivity and resilience by translating complex meteorological data into simple, practical guidance accessible to farmers with varying levels of literacy and digital familiarity.
Speaking at the workshop, Brian Miranda, representing Tomorrow.io’s leadership, commended NiMet’s Director-General, Prof. Charles Anosike, for what he described as “foresight and strategic leadership” in positioning the agency among Africa’s leading national hydrometeorological institutions.
Miranda noted that NiMet’s adoption of artificial intelligence tools in meteorology could significantly strengthen early warning systems for extreme weather events, enhancing the country’s capacity to safeguard lives, infrastructure, and agricultural investments.
In his remarks, Prof. Anosike described the initiative as a transformative step for Nigerian agriculture. He emphasised that the advisory service is specifically designed to support farmers’ daily operations by delivering weather-based recommendations that are straightforward and easy to understand.
He explained that the decision tree under development would combine scientific analysis with field-level realities, ensuring that guidance is not only accurate but also practical for crop and livestock management.
The workshop will continue with intensive technical sessions in which participants will collaboratively design and test the DCAS Decision Tree model.
The resulting framework is expected to address key challenges faced by local farmers, incorporating expert analysis, stakeholder contributions, and real-world data.
Organisers say that once operational, the platform will mark a significant leap in climate-smart agriculture, equipping farmers with reliable information to make timely, informed decisions and strengthening national food security in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.
