Ngwenya’s farm — in Ntabazinduna, 40km north of Bulawayo — is so remote that he can go a year or more without seeing the agriculture extension officers who are sent by local charities to assist small-scale farmers like him. Many still rely on traditional weather-predicting systems and occasional visits by on-the-ground extension officers to get crucial information and advice. However, using satellite data, groups like TMG can access weather information that is more accurate than the general forecasts supplied by the meteorological department, said Lwazi Mlilo, an agronomist working with TMG. With mobile phone technology, they can get that information to farmers faster than they would by sending people out to hard-to-reach farms, he added. Last year, the UN agency said that satellite data had the potential to help Africa’s farmers “be better prepared for drought and increase agricultural production with less water use.”

Source: Taipei Times February 15, 2020 15:56 UTC