Kenya to get 15,000 smart weather stations

Kenya as a nation is set to receive 15,000 smart weather stations under a major agricultural technology initiative targeted at improving farming practices, strengthening climate resilience and increasing food production across the country.

The project anchored by Austrian agricultural technology company Pessl Instruments, forms part of a wider plan to install up to 100,000 smart weather stations across Africa. The initiative, known as UpYield4Africa, was officially launched in Nairobi on October 30, 2026, bringing together technology companies, agricultural businesses, financial institutions and other stakeholders.

The weather stations, developed under the company’s METOS brand, will collect important environmental information, including rainfall, temperature, humidity, soil moisture and leaf wetness. The information will be transmitted to Pessl’s FieldClimate digital platform, allowing farmers to access localised weather forecasts, crop disease alerts and other agricultural advice through mobile and online applications.

The technology is expected to assist farmers make informed decisions about planting schedules, irrigation, fertiliser application and pest control. It will also enable them to prepare better for extreme weather conditions, reduce agricultural losses and improve overall productivity.

Speaking at the launch, Pessl Instruments Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Gottfried Pessl, emphasised the importance of providing smallholder farmers with accurate, location-specific weather information to improve decision-making throughout the farming cycle.

AgriMet Data Kenya will serve as the local implementation partner, responsible for distributing, installing and maintaining the stations, as well as providing farmer training and technical support.

Beyond weather monitoring, the UpYield4Africa initiative aims to connect farmers with agricultural advisers, input suppliers, financial institutions and commercial produce buyers. Farmers will be organised into production clusters and supported by Digital Farm Advisors, who will help translate weather information into practical farming recommendations.

The programme also proposes a financing arrangement involving Austrian financial institutions and a Kenyan banking partner. The proposed model is designed to improve farmers’ access to agricultural equipment and credit without requiring individuals to provide personal assets or land as collateral. However, the arrangement remains subject to financial assessments and regulatory approvals.

Austrian Ambassador to Kenya, Simone Knapp, described the initiative as an important step towards strengthening cooperation between Austria and Kenya in agricultural technology and food security.

If successfully implemented, the project could transform small-scale farming in Kenya by improving access to reliable information, strengthening market connections and encouraging more sustainable agricultural practices.