Weather Index Insurance (WII)
Sri Lanka
IWMI introduced an application to the farmer community (pilot in Dunumadalawa, Ellawewa GND) to help them stay informed of weather patterns before undertaking any agricultural activities. IWMI installed two measurements at a central location in the village to measure and forecast rainfall and temperature. This information is sent every two weeks to the farmers’ mobile phone. The agro-economic advisories prepared by the Department of Agrarian Development are also sent to the farmers’ mobile phones. The weather insurance product is tailored to the area, the season, the crop and unique risks . Farmers holding the insurance policy will receive compensation for any lost revenue from the cultivation of the specified crop if there is too much or too little rainfall in the specified location. The compensation is based on the variation between the Weather Index set and the Actual Observed Index recorded in the village. The crop period is divided into three cover phases (months), considering the different levels of rainfall required in each phase.
Digital Solution (DS) Category
Digital Agriculture
Digital Rural Services
Digital Solution Type (sub-category)
Farm management services, Weather forecasting
Digital extension services
Delivery type (format)
Mobile app
Monitoring systems (wireless, solar powered etc.)
DS supplier-user category
Business to business
Business to consumers
Type of entity (ICT developer-supplier)
Multi-partners
Name of supplier/developer
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Primary Users
Farmers , Agribusiness / private company
Digital Solution Development Stage
Commercial stage (limited use)
Number of users or subscribers
Galebindunuwewa - Approx. 10% of the farmers. Ellawewa - This product was first piloted in 2021 with maize farmers in the village of Dunumadalawa, Ellawewa GN Division at Anuradhapura District. Over 150 farmers at Dunumadalawa are registered with IWMI on this application. However. The Agriculture Inspector only heard about the app recently and didn't have a full understanding of the tech. Later, this App was also piloted in Ampara, Monaragala, Vavuniya, Kurunegala, and Hambantota Districts.
Source: Developer website
Measurable positive impact(s) by Digital Solution (DS) on target users and/or audience
Digital Solution Geographic scope
Galebindunuwewa and Ellawewa. Also piloted in Ampara, Monaragala, Vavuniya, Kurunegala, and Hambantota Districts.
Name of Digital village(s), districts, communes where DS is used/deployed
On-line resource links (Web-page links, links to videos, links to reports, etc)
DS Links to FAO, UN and other Development agencies projects, initiatives and programmes