Meteomatics, in collaboration with Reinhart and Alliance Ginneries, is working to improve cotton yields in Tanzania and Zambia. By integrating advanced weather forecasting into agricultural practices, the partnership aims to boost organic cotton yields by 15–20% while promoting sustainable farming methods. The initiative targets smallholder farmers who are grappling with the challenges of climate change and limited access to essential resources.
Climate Change’s Impact on African Cotton Farming
Cotton is a significant global crop, supporting over 100 million households worldwide. In Africa, where about 7% of the world’s cotton is grown, the reliance on natural rainfall makes farmers particularly vulnerable to changing weather patterns. Most smallholder farmers do not have access to irrigation systems, and success hinges on predictable rainfall during the growing phase and dry weather during harvest. Unfortunately, unpredictable weather has made it harder for farmers to make informed planting and harvesting decisions.
Adding to the difficulty, many farmers lack access to reliable weather forecasts and often depend on informal sources like visual cues and word-of-mouth for planning their activities. This leaves them ill-equipped to adjust their farming methods and adapt to the shifting climate.
Empowering Farmers with Weather Forecasts
For over 230 years, Reinhart has been a leading figure in the cotton trading industry, including the trade of organic cotton from Africa. As climate change disrupts farming in the region, smallholder farmers are struggling to maintain viable cotton crops using traditional methods. To help these farmers, Reinhart has partnered with Meteomatics to provide accurate, actionable weather forecasts.
The collaboration also includes Alliance Ginneries, a certified sustainable cotton partner in Tanzania and Zambia. The goal is clear: improve cotton yields while supporting farmers in making climate-smart decisions. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under the Cotton4Impact initiative and will reach about 12,000 farmers in Tanzania and 3,500 farmers in Zambia.
A New Era of Farming: Leveraging Weather Data
The initiative aims to improve cotton yields by 15–20%, benefiting farmers through organic cotton premiums that encourage environmentally sustainable practices. Organic farming techniques improve soil fertility by eliminating synthetic chemicals, which also enhances resilience to climate variations.
The key to this transformation is reliable, high-resolution weather data. Through Meteomatics’ tailored weather forecasts, farmers receive detailed insights into weather patterns like precipitation, soil moisture, and temperature. These insights help farmers make timely, informed decisions on when to plant and harvest cotton.
“We’re able to provide actionable weather data that enables farmers to predict the best planting windows,” says Dr. Matthias Häni, an external consultant for the Cotton4Impact project. “Using Meteomatics’ 90-meter resolution weather data, we can focus on specific areas, ensuring that the weather forecasts are as localized and relevant as possible.”
Pilot Success: 99% Forecast Accuracy
The pilot phase of the project was a resounding success. By comparing Meteomatics’ forecasts with real-world data, the team achieved an accuracy rate of 99% in terms of rainfall and cloud cover. “The results were extremely precise, with rain and cloud cover matching the forecasts by 99%,” says Boaz Ogola, Managing Director at Alliance Ginneries Tanzania.
For farmers in Zambia, where drought has been particularly severe, timely weather forecasts are even more critical. John Tembo, Operations Manager at Alliance Ginneries Zambia, explains, “With this year’s drought, rain forecasts are critical for us. Meteomatics’ data provided invaluable insights into planting windows, helping farmers make decisions in a region with limited rain.”
Data Delivery and Accessibility for Farmers
Now that the pilot phase is complete, Meteomatics’ high-resolution weather data is being handed over to Alliance Ginneries, which will interpret the data and share it with farmers via SMS. This method ensures that even farmers with basic mobile phones can access crucial weather information.
The system will provide farmers with updates on rainfall, temperature, and soil moisture, guiding them on the optimal planting times during the growing season. By receiving these updates, farmers can plan their activities based on weather patterns, mitigating the risks associated with climate uncertainty.
“This initiative demonstrates how technology can bridge gaps for smallholder cotton farmers in remote locations,” says Dr. Philippe Saner, Head of Sustainability at Reinhart. “With reliable weather data at their fingertips, farmers can adapt their practices to mitigate climate change impacts and secure better, more sustainable futures.”
The Bigger Picture: Sustainable Cotton Farming in Africa
The partnership between Meteomatics, Reinhart, and Alliance Ginneries highlights the potential of technology to enhance sustainable farming practices. By making weather data more accessible, this collaboration is helping farmers increase their cotton yields and income while fostering environmental sustainability. As organic farming continues to grow, the data-driven approach will play a pivotal role in enabling smallholder farmers to thrive despite the challenges of climate change.
In addition to improving cotton yields, this initiative aligns with global sustainability efforts, proving that agriculture can be both economically profitable and environmentally responsible. “By making weather data accessible and actionable, we’re not just improving yields,” Dr. Saner adds. “We’re also enabling farmers to become stewards of the land, ensuring that future generations will benefit from the fruits of their labor.”
A Path Forward for Climate-Smart Agriculture
Through innovative collaborations like this one, smallholder farmers in Tanzania and Zambia are being equipped with the tools they need to thrive in a changing climate. By combining traditional farming practices with cutting-edge weather technology, Meteomatics and Reinhart are paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient future in African cotton farming. This partnership is a model for how technology can help farmers adapt to climate change and improve their livelihoods, ensuring the sustainability of agriculture for years to come.
