Baku: The number of climate stations in Azerbaijan is set to increase to 181, as Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ilhama Gadimova announced during a panel discussion titled ‘Benefits and Challenges of Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems’ at Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026). Currently, 151 climate stations are providing data to aid in weather forecasting.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Gadimova revealed plans to install an additional 30 climate stations, aiming to enhance the country’s network. She highlighted the importance of transforming data into services that benefit farmers, noting that the artificial intelligence programme in place focuses on practical applications such as monitoring plant health, assessing disease and pest risks, forecasting yields and water demand, and managing irrigation.
The Deputy Minister emphasized the need for artificial intelligence to complement human decision-making rather than replace it, pointing out that farmers encounter various risks simultaneously. Therefore, strong interaction between information systems and institutions is necessary. Gadimova also stressed the importance of data governance, cybersecurity, transparency, reliability, and digital inclusion as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into state-level decision-making processes.
Gadimova concluded by underscoring the need to prevent digital transformation from causing new inequalities in agriculture, ensuring that small farmers have equal access to early warning systems. The goal is to ensure that accurate information reaches farmers promptly, enabling timely and informed decisions, which in turn can strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector.