Ignitia, a tropical weather forecasting company, has introduced climate intelligence solutions for sustainable farming and climate adaptation in Ghana.
The company, which has a history of supporting tropical farmers worldwide with climate intelligence solutions, aims to address the issue of low-accuracy weather forecasts in tropical regions by providing hyper-local forecasts that are twice as accurate as global models. These forecasts are based on atmospheric physics-based numerical predictions.
The company’s offerings include crop-specific climate-smart advisory services, co-designed with food system stakeholders and delivered via SMS, WhatsApp, smartphone apps, web, and APIs.
These services cover various time scales, from 48-hour rainfall forecasts to monthly and seasonal predictions, without the need for expensive and hard-to-maintain weather stations.
Kwabena Frimpong, the Regional Director for Africa at Ignitia, explained that their collaboration with small-scale farmers in Ghana and West Africa began in 2015.
The primary goal has been to provide dependable SMS forecasts to these farmers, helping them mitigate risks and minimize losses in their communities.
The company’s weather model relies on satellite data, allowing for easy expansion to new tropical areas without the constraints of high infrastructure costs. Ignitia recognizes the significant threat climate change poses to food security and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in tropical regions, where weather forecasts have historically been unreliable.
During a visit to a maize demonstration field in the Eastern Region of Ghana, Frimpong expressed excitement about establishing two different demonstration farms to test the accuracy of their SMS services.
He highlighted their technology as the world’s first and most accurate tropical weather forecasting company, with over 84% reliability.
Dr. Francis Nii Clottey Odonkor, Municipal Agric Officer in charge of extension with the Department of Agriculture, emphasized the value of Ignitia’s services, which provide frequent and district-level predictions to help farmers prepare for planting and other agricultural activities.
Miranda Osei Agyemang, Business Advisor with Ignitia Ghana, described how their affordable SMS service, costing farmers ¢0.20 a day, offers real-time weather updates, making it accessible even in rural communities without internet connectivity or smartphones.
Agric Extension Agent Ernest Amanor–Larbi discussed the positive impact of Ignitia’s SMS weather alert service on safety and preparedness at the community level, highlighting its timeliness and relevance for farmers.
Farmers who attended the demonstration farm visit expressed their appreciation for the SMS weather alert service, which provides real-time weather updates and emergency notifications directly to their mobile phones. The service allows users to select specific alerts relevant to their location and interests, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions and protect their farms.
Ignitia’s efforts in Ghana are part of a broader mission to empower small-scale farmers with reliable climate intelligence, enabling them to improve yield, income, and family livelihoods while promoting regenerative agriculture.
The company’s success in Ghana has spurred expansion into other West African countries, offering hope for more accurate and locally relevant weather forecasts in the region.
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