Smartphone app using Nasa data could help farmers in Mozambique deal with the effects of climate change
A smartphone app, designed to help rural communities harvest rainwater, could help stem the effects of climate change in Mozambique.
Smartphone app could help farmers in Mozambique deal with drought
Created by civil engineer, Aline Okello, the rainwater harvesting app relies on live precipitation data from Nasa using inputs for roof type (clay, thatch, iron) and location to determine how much water can be harvested to help local farmers cope in times of drought.
Using the information provided, the app suggests the best size of harvesting tank and informs users where to buy said equipment, as well as step-by-step instructions on how harvesting works.
“I was seeing all these windmills, all these wheels pumping water, and I thought, ‘My God, I didn’t know about this [technology] and I’m a civil engineer,” explained Okello in the Guardian and considering the technology on hand, Okello realised that though local farmers don’t have water or electricity they do often have smartphone’s and apps like WhatsApp.
“That got me thinking: we don’t have enough reservoirs, and we have only limited water management and infrastructure, so there is a huge need for growth and technology. People don’t have any idea how much water they can actually save from their rooftops. There is a huge information gap,” Okello added.
Much like the rest of southern Africa, Mozambique has suffered from periods of prolonged drought meaning that should rainwater harvesting succeed, it could help tackle numerous problems facing residents who often see their crops flooded year-after-year only to lose out at times of drought.
So far, the app has proved successful in trials with Okello revealing her end goal is to inform residents on how to use the technology that could help them adapt to climate change. “My vision really is to bring information to people’s fingertips,” she said.