Addressing climate change to boost crop, livestock production

A growing coalition of agricultural scientists, policymakers, technologists, and development actors gathered recently at a pivotal symposium themed “Climate Resilience in Action: Collaborative Approaches to Adaptation.” The event, jointly organized by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), Michigan State University (MSU), and Sahel Consulting, signaled a decisive shift in how Africa’s agri-food systems must adapt to survive the climate emergency.

With a focus on empowering Nigeria’s smallholder farmers, pastoralists, and micro-enterprises across the rice, maize, cowpea, and livestock value chains, the dialogue underscored one key message: the age of passive observation is over. The climate crisis is no longer theoretical — it is transforming growing seasons, depleting rangelands, and eroding farmer livelihoods in real time.

Kayode Sanni of AATF emphasized that women and youth, who make up the bulk of the continent’s agricultural workforce, face the brunt of this disruption. In response, AATF and partners have launched a Gates Foundation–funded initiative integrating Climate Smart Decision Support Systems for MSMEs. These digital tools combine local weather forecasting, agronomic advice, and market intelligence — removing guesswork from farming decisions.

MSU’s Dr. Daniel Uyeh introduced open-source, low-cost weather stations tailored for African environments. Already in deployment across Nigeria and Kenya, these tools democratize access to climate data — allowing farmers to determine planting windows and enabling extension workers to anticipate pest outbreaks.

Professor Eustace Iyayi, representing the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, highlighted the NL-GAS initiative, Nigeria’s strategy to evolve its livestock sector into a $90 billion industry by 2035. With climate-smart livestock breeding, pasture management, and emission reduction at its core, the strategy also aims to insulate over 30 million Nigerians who depend on livestock from worsening climate shocks.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s Director-General, Professor Charles Anosike, called for a radical upgrade of Nigeria’s weather infrastructure. With over 60% of data still collected manually, NiMet’s push for automatic weather stations and digital tools could transform how government and communities respond to environmental changes.

Throughout the symposium, participants agreed: the climate challenge demands more than high-tech fixes. It requires deeply rooted, locally driven partnerships that enable every farmer to become a frontline climate actor.
Source- Tribune Online

Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The climate symposium’s deliberations point toward a bold reimagination of Africa’s agri-food systems — one grounded in technology, partnerships, and inclusive participation. For stakeholders in agribusiness, this momentum brings both risks and strategic opportunities. Below is our expert analysis outlining the implications and directions to watch:

1. Strengthening Smallholder Decision-Making with Digital Tools
   Climate Smart Decision Support Systems (CDSS) will change the landscape of smallholder productivity by minimizing weather-related guesswork. Stakeholders — including cooperatives, input suppliers, and extension providers — should align with digital tool developers to ensure usability, local language integration, and affordability.
2. Resilient Infrastructure for Agro-Climatic Intelligence
   The MSU-developed modular weather stations offer a scalable climate forecasting network. State governments and private sector actors should co-finance installations in key production belts, thereby localizing data that can guide everything from sowing schedules to insurance premium models.
3. Livestock Sector Transformation through Climate-Smart Policies
   The NL-GAS strategy presents a framework for private sector entry into climate-resilient livestock solutions. This includes opportunities in drought-resistant fodder systems, mobile veterinary services, and disease surveillance tools — particularly in regions vulnerable to herder-farmer conflicts.
4. Gender and Youth Inclusion in Agri-Tech Innovation
   As climate adaptation funding flows in, targeted inclusion of women and youth should not be seen as CSR but as an engine for scalable innovation. Their presence across tech-enabled agri-enterprises will determine the sustainability and reach of climate-smart models.
5. Public-Private Partnerships as Vehicles for Climate Action
   The diversity of actors at the symposium proves that collaborative ecosystems are essential. Agri-financiers, telecom firms, and logistics companies can embed climate resilience into their models — turning pilot projects into market-ready solutions for broad deployment.
6. From Data Ownership to Farmer Empowerment
   The push to “own our weather” means empowering farmers as data contributors and users. Platforms that enable farmer-generated data, feedback loops, and localized decision support will be key in shifting control from abstract systems to farm-level action.

Conclusion
The call to action is not just technical; it is strategic. From Benue’s rice growers to pastoralists in Yobe, climate resilience is now a business imperative. Stakeholders who prioritize agility, inclusivity, and collaboration will shape the future of African agriculture — one weather station, one decision, one empowered farmer at a time.”