Lead organisation: Ignitia
Ignitia’s innovation delivers hyperlocal, AI-powered weather forecasts and climate intelligence via SMS through trusted outgrower schemes targeting climate-impacted smallholder tea farmers in Nandi Hills, Kenya and Kabarole District, Uganda. The grant awarded will be used to de-risk market entry into hard-to-penetrate regions, acting as a first-loss mechanism to validate demand, prove impact, and build the foundation for sustainable scale-up through farmer subscriptions and private sector partnerships.
Accurate forecasts help farmers apply water, fertiliser, and pesticides only when needed, minimising runoff and soil degradation. Equipping farmers with hyperlocal daily and seasonal forecasts, planting data and longer-range climate risk forecasts and early warning alerts via SMS, WhatsApp, and community radio enables farmers to make timely, informed decisions that reduce crop losses, optimise input use, and strengthen ecological resilience.