Windhoek: The Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) has donated 44 automated weather stations to Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform. This initiative aims to modernize and improve the country's weather observation network.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the automatic weather stations are designed to collect, record, and transmit meteorological data, including temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed, and precipitation. Speaking at the official handover ceremony, SASSCAL Executive Director Nelago Indongo emphasized that these stations are part of a 2.9 million Euro project. The project addresses prolonged droughts and severe rainfall in member countries.

Indongo pointed out that recent droughts and heavy rainfall highlight the urgent need to enhance Namibia's ability to monitor and respond to climate change. She explained that the automated weather stations would improve weather forecasting, water resource management, and climate-smart agricultural planning.

The technology allows for real-time data transmission to central databases or meteorological centers, facilitating timely flood warnings in northern regions and drought alerts in arid areas. Teofilus Nghitila, Executive Director at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, remarked that the AWS not only represent a technological investment but also a commitment to sustainable development. He noted that the data from these stations would be crucial for early warning systems, climate forecasting, and responsible agricultural policy design.