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Austrian agricultural technology company Pessl Instruments plans to install 15,000 smart weather stations in Kenya as the first phase of a rollout targeting 100,000 units across Africa, Capital FM reported on October 30, 2026. The project, called UpYield4Africa, was launched in Nairobi and aims to help small-scale farmers use local weather and soil data to make better decisions and reach buyers.
How the smart weather stations work
The stations, sold under Pessl’s METOS brand, measure rainfall, temperature, humidity, soil moisture and leaf wetness. The data goes to the company’s FieldClimate platform, which gives local forecasts and crop disease alerts. Farmers can use it to decide when to plant, irrigate and apply fertiliser, when to spray against pests and diseases, and how to prepare for extreme weather.
Pessl Instruments founder and CEO Gottfried Pessl said the technology would give farmers location-specific information throughout the growing season. Leaf wetness and humidity readings matter because many fungal diseases, such as potato late blight, spread when leaves stay wet, so timely alerts can save spraying costs and crops.
Who is involved
- AgriMet Data Kenya is the local partner, handling distribution, installation, maintenance, training and farmer support.
- Farmers will be organised into production clusters, supported by digital farm advisers who help interpret data and plan production around market demand.
- Companies at the launch included Safaricom, Bayer Crop Science, Lindsay, HZPC and Viazi, X Green Capital, FreshCrop Limited and SAI Platform.
- Austrian Ambassador to Kenya Simone Knapp said the initiative would strengthen cooperation on agricultural technology and food security.
The financing plan, still provisional
The project proposes financing through Austrian financial institutions and a Kenyan bank. Cluster companies or produce buyers could borrow against eligible equipment and crop purchase agreements, so individual farmers would not need to pledge land or personal assets. This arrangement is still subject to lender due diligence and regulatory approval. KCB’s participation is provisional and final terms have not been agreed, according to the report. No timeline or price per station for farmers was given.
Why it matters now
The Kenya Meteorological Department expects above-average short rains over much of the country from October to December, and KCB has warned that El Niño could disrupt farming and transport; see our report on KCB’s economic outlook. Local data helps farmers respond to such seasons. Many smallholders still plant by calendar or rely on national forecasts that may not match their area.
The bigger challenges the project targets are fragmented production, limited extension advice and difficulty meeting commercial buyers’ volume and quality requirements. Clustering farmers around data and contracts is meant to address those. Farmers in major growing areas, such as the top maize-producing counties, are among those who could benefit. Those investing in irrigation should also know the rules on water; see our guide on borehole permits from WRA.
What farmers should ask before signing up
- Who owns the station and the data it collects, and who else can see your farm data.
- Whether there is a subscription fee for the FieldClimate platform and advisory services.
- What the crop purchase agreement requires: prices, quality standards and what happens if the buyer rejects produce.
- Who pays for maintenance and replacement if the station is damaged or stolen.
FAQ
How many smart weather stations will Kenya get?
15,000 in the first phase of Pessl Instruments’ plan for 100,000 across Africa.
What do the weather stations measure?
Rainfall, temperature, humidity, soil moisture and leaf wetness, with forecasts and disease alerts through FieldClimate.
Who installs the stations in Kenya?
AgriMet Data Kenya, the local implementation partner.
Updated October 31, 2026.
Related: Kenya pushes regional harmonisation of commodity standards and warehouse receipts
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