NiMet tests new digital data hub to boost farm planning

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has commenced testing of a digital platform designed to improve farmers’ and other agricultural stakeholders’ access to location-specific weather and climate information.

The NiMet Data Hub, developed in partnership with the International Livestock Research Institute and Crea2Solutions, has advanced from the design and mock-up stage to an advanced Minimum Viable Product, according to a statement the agency issued on Monday.

According to the statement, the platform was being developed to provide farmers, livestock keepers and agricultural advisers with more reliable access to historical, monitored and forecast climate information.

Work on the hub began in February 2026 under the Climate Services for Youth and Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa programmes. “By July 2026 the project had progressed from early design to a testable product”, the statement said.

It added that the initiative was intended to “improve access to historical, monitored and forecast climate information and to support risk analysis, seasonal planning and climate-informed decision-making.”

According to the statement, the development of the platform followed persistent weaknesses in agricultural climate services, including fragmented data, limited coordination among information providers and difficulties in converting technical forecasts into timely and practical advice.

“Officials and partners have described the hub as a response to persistent weaknesses in agricultural climate services, including fragmented data, limited coordination among information providers, and the difficulty of turning technical forecasts into timely, practical advice,” it said.

The statement said stakeholder engagement co-hosted by NiMet and ILRI had focused on mapping Nigeria’s agro-meteorological data and advisory landscape and identifying gaps in the availability and delivery of information.

It said the engagement was also aimed at “strengthening institutional linkages, improving last-mile communication, and supporting gender and social inclusion.”

The platform is expected to serve farmers, pastoralists, extension professionals, researchers, government institutions, and private advisory providers.

According to the statement, NiMet resources, including online map rooms and agricultural climate products, are expected to feed into the system and support the development of context-specific agro-weather advisories.

The statement explained that ILRI’s contribution was aligned with its wider work of organising research data, developing digital tools and making information more usable for partners and decision-makers.

It said the project was consistent with the food security, climate-smart agriculture and digital service priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“By seeking to place usable climate information in the hands of producers and advisers, the hub is intended to support preparedness, reduce climate-related losses and strengthen agri-food livelihoods,” the statement said.

The initiative is expected to strengthen the link between meteorological information and agricultural decision-making by making climate data more accessible to those who need it for planning and risk management.

The project also seeks to improve coordination among institutions involved in the collection, processing and delivery of agricultural climate information, while strengthening communication between technical service providers and end users.

The development comes amid growing efforts to strengthen climate-smart agriculture and improve farmers’ ability to respond to changing weather conditions and climate-related risks.

NiMet and its partners are expected to continue testing the platform and refining its services as the Data Hub moves towards wider deployment.