LocationsHow Weather Stations Are Empowering Farmers and Building Peace in Northwest Nigeria
August 25, 2025
The six automated Weather Stations are not the end in themselves, but in fact just the beginning.
For generations, farmers in Nigeria have relied on traditional agricultural practices, their wisdom passed down through time and rooted in cultural traditional knowledge. These methods have sustained communities, especially in rural areas where modern tools and technologies remain out of reach. But climate change is upending the natural rhythms these farmers once trusted.
The IPCC's 6th Assessment Report confirms that global temperatures reached 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels between 2011 and 2020. The WMO adds that every major climate indicator, from greenhouse gas concentrations to ocean heat content is at record levels. In Nigeria, the fallout is real and immediate. Erratic rainfall, rising temperatures and extreme weather are eroding agricultural productivity and threatening livelihoods, especially in regions where farming is not just an occupation but a survival.
In Northwest of Nigeria, where agriculture is rain-fed and semi-arid, the effects are stark. Planting and harvesting cycles are no longer predictable. Crops struggle to complete their growth, and yields are falling. In Sokoto and Katsina, recurring droughts, overgrazing and reduced rainfall are accelerating land degradation. The Sahelian desert keeps creeping in, swallowing once-arable land under shifting dunes.
Staple crops like millet, sorghum and maize are producing less. Food insecurity is rising. And as pastoralists migrate south in search of grazing land, tensions with settled farmers intensify, sparking the kind of conflict that’s become tragically familiar in Kaduna, Katsina and Sokoto.
These stations provide real-time, location-specific weather information to communities, particularly farmers, enabling them to anticipate and respond more effectively to climate risks.
Using technology to Bridge the Climate Information Gap
At the heart of the problem is a lack of reliable weather data. Most farmers still rely on intuition and cloud-watching to guide their decisions. In a changing climate, that’s not enough.
To close this gap, UNDP, through its Climate Security Project and with support from the Norwegian government, partnered with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and emergency management agencies to install six Automated Weather Stations (AWS) across Sokoto and Katsina States.
These stations provide real-time, location-specific weather information to communities, particularly farmers, enabling them to anticipate and respond more effectively to climate risks. In such climate-affected and conflict-prone areas, the six automatic weather stations are serving as a bridge between traditional knowledge and innovative climate solutions.
For farmers navigating uncertain conditions, AWS are helping bridge traditional knowledge with modern climate science. With real-time data now within reach, many of the farmers are developing seasonal crop calendars tailored to their local patterns. This informed approach mitigates weather-related risks, optimizes agricultural planning, and is demonstrably improving yields.
Recent findings from an impact assessment affirm this progress:
Access to weather information increased from 48% to 80%, reflecting widespread uptake of the services.
Farmers using NiMet weather information recorded a 9.4% increase in yield, proving the tangible productivity benefits of climate-informed decision-making.
Agricultural loss risk dropped by 34% among those practicing weather-based planning.
Female farmers experienced a 157% increase in access to weather information, highlighting a significant closing of the gender gap in climate services.
The deployment of Automated Weather Stations, as part of the broader Climate Peace Hubs, represents a profound shift from relying on ancestral wisdom alone to embracing a new era of climate intelligence.
These results provide compelling evidence of both the demand for and the transformative impact of weather information services, making a strong case for scaling the deployment of AWS across more regions. To ensure that data isn’t just available but usable, UNDP and NiMet have focused on accessible, community-led dissemination:
Forecasts are translated into local languages.
Visual tools like infographics and icons are used to communicate key messages in low-literacy areas.
Training and sensitization sessions help farmers interpret and apply the data in their daily decisions.
Local radio, extension workers, and community leaders support the timely relay of alerts and forecasts.
Through these approaches, climate data becomes not just accessible, but actionable, turning information into resilience at the grassroots level.
Adamu James, Assistant Director at NiMet, called the initiative “a significant milestone,” praising its contribution to more accurate weather forecasts and early warning systems. He highlighted the broader ripple effects for disaster preparedness and economic planning, and confirmed NiMet’s commitment to scaling these gains across Nigeria
“The Agency looks forward to continued collaboration with UNDP to expand and sustain these gains for the benefit of communities across Nigeria.” he said.
Sha’awa Umar
Farmers are already feeling the benefits. Sha’awa Umar, a farmer in Illela, Sokoto State, said the AWS project is creating strong synergy among farmers and helping them avoid costly planting mistakes.
“With this, we’re certain of avoiding crop losses,” she said. “It will also serve as an early warning system and a detailed calendar to guide us. We are very optimistic going forward.”
Conclusion
The six automated Weather Stations are not the end in themselves, but in fact just the beginning. As initial strategic investments in boosting local level climate intelligence, their deployment in Sokoto and Katsina is transforming how communities plan and adapt. The data, delivered through accessible channels like local radio and community leaders, becomes actionable information, empowering farmers to make data-driven decisions on planting, harvesting, and water management. This new-found climate intelligence strengthens agricultural planning, helping farmers mitigate risks and improve yields in the face of increasingly erratic weather. The stations are also key elements of the broader Climate Peace Hubs, flagship centers designed to combine technology, local wisdom, and governance to boost resilience at the community level.
In a region where climate change is straining social fabric and deepening vulnerability, the AWS initiative marks a shift.
The deployment of Automated Weather Stations, as part of the broader Climate Peace Hubs, represents a profound shift from relying on ancestral wisdom alone to embracing a new era of climate intelligence. This fusion of tradition and technology offers a pathway to a more resilient and peaceful future, empowering farmers with the data needed for climate-smart agriculture while providing an objective foundation for dialogue between communities in conflict. In this way, technology becomes a vital tool not just for predicting the weather, but for sowing the seeds of peace and a sustainable tomorrow in Northwest Nigeria.
