This article is written on an initiative that aims at reducing poor populations’ vulnerability to climate change and variability through meteorological and Indigenous Knowledge-Based Forecasting.
This presentation was made by Dr. Mathieu Ouédraogo, Participatory Action Research specialist/CCAFS West Africa at the WASCAL Science Symposium, 19-21 June 2018, Tang Palace Hotel, Accra, Ghana
Remote sensing technology for crop insurance – Applications and limitationsCIMMYT
Remote sensing –Beyond images
Mexico 14-15 December 2013
The workshop was organized by CIMMYT Global Conservation Agriculture Program (GCAP) and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), CGIAR Research Program on Maize, the Cereal System Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) and the Sustainable Modernization of the Traditional Agriculture (MasAgro)
This document summarizes a report on trends in agricultural conservation practices from 2004 to the present. It provides data on adoption rates of nutrient management practices like nitrogen application rates, fertilizer timing, and use of variable application technologies for corn, wheat, and soybeans. Data is also presented on adoption of conservation tillage like no-till for various crops. Livestock indicators show manure management practices and populations for swine and dairy cattle by state. While much data is available, gaps exist around use of nitrogen inhibitors, grazing lands, sensitive lands, solid manure separators, and consistent long term time series. This information helps USDA improve conservation program delivery and tracking of progress toward conservation goals.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Plant Protection Division addressed two major challenges in 2009 - the discovery of emerald ash borer in St. Paul and budget cuts due to the state's financial situation. For emerald ash borer, state and local agencies worked cooperatively to quickly identify and remove infested trees. This likely slowed the pest's spread. Budget cuts reduced some programs, but staff found efficiencies to maintain effectiveness. The division focused on programs most valuable to constituents during difficult financial times.
The document summarizes the methodology and challenges of the National Livestock Census conducted in Uganda in 2008. It provides details on the census organization, legal basis, international assistance received, methodology used including the sample design, questionnaires, and enumeration period. The key variables collected included livestock population data by species, production system, breed, sex and age. Some of the challenges faced included discrepancies in household numbers, difficulties in obtaining accurate livestock counts, fear of taxation among respondents, logistical issues in covering large Enumeration Areas, and resistance from some local councils and politicians.
forecasting is the first step for IPM. forecasting reduce the protection cost.various models and software are now known to present days ,Which are useful in control the pest.
This document discusses the importance of agrometeorology for effective disaster risk management activities. It defines agrometeorology as the application of meteorological knowledge to weather-sensitive agricultural problems. An agrometeorological service is important for countries with primary agricultural economies as it provides forecasts of adverse weather and climate information important for farming activities. The document outlines the services meteorologists can provide to agriculturists, including weather forecasts, advising on climate impacts, and assisting in combating unfavorable weather. It also discusses the types of observations and data collection needed at agrometeorological stations.
This presentation was made by Dr. Mathieu Ouédraogo, Participatory Action Research specialist/CCAFS West Africa at the WASCAL Science Symposium, 19-21 June 2018, Tang Palace Hotel, Accra, Ghana
Remote sensing technology for crop insurance – Applications and limitationsCIMMYT
Remote sensing –Beyond images
Mexico 14-15 December 2013
The workshop was organized by CIMMYT Global Conservation Agriculture Program (GCAP) and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), CGIAR Research Program on Maize, the Cereal System Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) and the Sustainable Modernization of the Traditional Agriculture (MasAgro)
This document summarizes a report on trends in agricultural conservation practices from 2004 to the present. It provides data on adoption rates of nutrient management practices like nitrogen application rates, fertilizer timing, and use of variable application technologies for corn, wheat, and soybeans. Data is also presented on adoption of conservation tillage like no-till for various crops. Livestock indicators show manure management practices and populations for swine and dairy cattle by state. While much data is available, gaps exist around use of nitrogen inhibitors, grazing lands, sensitive lands, solid manure separators, and consistent long term time series. This information helps USDA improve conservation program delivery and tracking of progress toward conservation goals.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture's Plant Protection Division addressed two major challenges in 2009 - the discovery of emerald ash borer in St. Paul and budget cuts due to the state's financial situation. For emerald ash borer, state and local agencies worked cooperatively to quickly identify and remove infested trees. This likely slowed the pest's spread. Budget cuts reduced some programs, but staff found efficiencies to maintain effectiveness. The division focused on programs most valuable to constituents during difficult financial times.
The document summarizes the methodology and challenges of the National Livestock Census conducted in Uganda in 2008. It provides details on the census organization, legal basis, international assistance received, methodology used including the sample design, questionnaires, and enumeration period. The key variables collected included livestock population data by species, production system, breed, sex and age. Some of the challenges faced included discrepancies in household numbers, difficulties in obtaining accurate livestock counts, fear of taxation among respondents, logistical issues in covering large Enumeration Areas, and resistance from some local councils and politicians.
forecasting is the first step for IPM. forecasting reduce the protection cost.various models and software are now known to present days ,Which are useful in control the pest.
This document discusses the importance of agrometeorology for effective disaster risk management activities. It defines agrometeorology as the application of meteorological knowledge to weather-sensitive agricultural problems. An agrometeorological service is important for countries with primary agricultural economies as it provides forecasts of adverse weather and climate information important for farming activities. The document outlines the services meteorologists can provide to agriculturists, including weather forecasts, advising on climate impacts, and assisting in combating unfavorable weather. It also discusses the types of observations and data collection needed at agrometeorological stations.
David Orden - The Imperfect Evolution of U.S. Farm PolicyIFPRI SIG
"The Imperfect Evolution of U.S. Farm Policy:From Supply Controls and Government Stocks to Countercyclical Payments to Farmers" - David Orden
SIG 2015 Workshop "Integrating Multi-level Governance into the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Opportunities, Trade-offs, and Implications", Nov 9-10, 2015
Regulatory Status of Gene Editing: Philippinesapaari
Regulatory Status of Gene Editing: Philippines by Saturnina C Halos during the Regional Expert Consultation on Gene Editing in Agriculture and its Regulations Technical Session II
Integrated agricultural system, migration, and social protection strategies t...ILRI
Presented by Bradford Mills (Virginia Tech), Genti Kostandini (University of Georgia), Anthony Murray (Economic Research Service, USDA), Jiangfeng Gao (Virginia Tech), Joseph Rusike (AGRA), Steven Omamo, Zhe Guo and Jawoo Koo (IFPRI) at the Livestock Systems and Environment (LSE) Seminar, ILRI, Nairobi, 28 January 2015
The Regulatory Status of Genome Editing Technology in Thailand apaari
The Regulatory Status of Genome Editing Technology in Thailand by Dr. Piyarat Thammakijjawat during the Regional Expert Consultation on Gene Editing in Agriculture and its Regulations Technical Session II
This document discusses precipitation variability and drought in Iran. It provides background on Iran's precipitation climatology, noting that Iran receives an average of 246 mm of annual rainfall, which is erratic and fluctuates widely across regions. Drought is a recurring problem, with the country suffering drought every 2.5 years on average. The 2001 drought affected over 90% of the population and caused estimated losses of $900 million. The document discusses different types of drought including meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and socioeconomic drought and their interrelationships. It also discusses various drought indices used to measure and define drought severity.
1 ijhaf aug-2017-3-long run analysis of the carryingAI Publications
This study examines the long run response of Agricultural land use indices to population growth in Nigeria. The study made use of 35 year time series data collected from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) annual reports, FAOSTAT and World Bank Statistical reports (1980-2015). Collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The result shows that agricultural land productivity in terms of cereal (rice, sorghum, millet & maize) yield exhibited a negative and significant response to population growth rate. Agricultural land use intensity showed a positive and significant response to population growth ratein Nigeria. Agricultural value added to GDP demonstrated a negative and significant response to population growth rate. Population growth and cereal yield yearly forecasts were 8.9% and 7.5% respectively.The study provided sufficient empirical evidence on relatively weak capacity of agricultural land to cereal productivity under population pressure and the need for policy on land enhancement technologies in Nigeria.
The significance of indigenous weather forecast knowledge and practices under...Premier Publishers
This paper discusses the implication of indigenous knowledge-based weather forecasts (IK-BFs) as a tool for reducing risks associated with weather variability and climate change among smallholder farmers on the south eastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Moshi Rural District of Tanzania. Participatory research approaches and household surveys were used to identify and document past and existing IK-BF practices. Local communities in the study transect use traditional experiences and knowledge to predict impending weather conditions by observing a combination of locally available indicators: plant phenology (40.80%), bird behaviour (21.33%), atmospheric changes (10.40%), insects’ behaviour (7.20%), environmental changes on Kilimanjaro, Pare and Ugweno mountains (4.80%), astronomical indicators (4.8%), animal behaviour (4.00%), water related indicators (3.73%) and traditional calendars (2.93%). The study established that 60% of farmers use and trust IK-BFs over modern science-based forecasts (SCFs). Although about 86.3% of respondents observed some correlation between IK-BFs and SCFs, and 93.6% supported integration of the two sets of information, the nature and extent of their correlation is not yet established. We none the less recommend that IK-BFs be taken into relevant national policies and development frameworks to facilitate agro-ecological conservation for use and delivery of effective weather and climate services to farming communities.
Presented by Hassan Ally Mruttu, Conrad Joseph Ndomba and Salim Werner Nandonde at the Tanzania Livestock Master Plan Technical Committee Meeting, Dar es Salaam, 23 June 2016
Oregon has a statewide land use planning program that aims to protect farmland and contain urban development through exclusive farm zones, limits on non-farm development, and urban growth boundaries. The program has been largely successful in slowing the loss of farmland, with only 1% of farmland converting to residential uses between 1982-1997 compared to over 8% in Florida. However, the program is not perfect, as urban growth boundaries still expand sometimes onto cropland and many non-farm uses are allowed in farm zones. Efforts to further improve the program include using transferable development rights and strengthening protections for rural reserves near urban areas.
Case Study to Investigate the Adoption of Precision Agriculture in Nigeria Us...Premier Publishers
This study investigated the adoption of precision farming (PF) technology with research into the possible implementation of the technology for increased productivity in a maize plantation in Nigeria. The research understands the nature of the challenges and highlights the possibility of implementing PF technology to Nigerian Agriculture. The methodology uses simple image analysis with fuzzy classification to determine the degree of spatial and temporal variability of the field to develop a treatment plan for an equally fertile and fully productive yield. The results showed that implementing precision agriculture (PA) will yield high productivity with the aid of remote sensing to obtain an aerial view of the farm. Simple PA technologies, such as using the information to determine and test soil nutrient availability to enable land preparation to obtain a uniform field, can help make the managerial decision on the farm efficiently. There is a great chance to optimize production on the field, minimise input resources, cost and maximising profit while preserving the natural environment. By using machine vision technology with fuzzy logic for decision making, not only the shape, size, colour, and texture of objects can be recognised but also numerical attributes of the objects or scene being imaged.
The online start-up workshop presented the "Building a COVID-19 Rapid Response and Ag-Foresight Department in Egypt" project’s activities and future plans, including collaborative discussion and brainstorming with stakeholders on the most relevant issues and policies in the agricultural sector’s resilience during COVID-19.
This document provides guidelines for conducting Maternal Death Reviews (MDRs) in Punjab, India. It outlines procedures for both Facility Based MDRs (FBMDRs) and Community Based MDRs (CBMDRs). FBMDRs investigate clinical and systemic causes of maternal deaths occurring in health facilities. CBMDRs interview family/community members using verbal autopsies to identify medical, socio-economic, and systemic factors contributing to maternal deaths in the community. The guidelines establish mechanisms for data collection, analysis, and follow-up actions to address gaps and prevent future deaths. They include flow charts, forms, and questionnaires to standardize the MDR process across facilities and communities. The overall aim is
The document describes using systematic field surveys across diverse landscapes to assess the effects of land use on soil health. Specifically, it discusses using a standardized Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) to collect plot and subplot data on vegetation, erosion, soil properties, and land use history from over 320 sites. This data can then be analyzed using multi-level modeling to understand relationships between inherent soil properties, land cover types, and indicators of soil health across sites. The goal is to explore these linkages and assess how land use influences soil health while accounting for inherent soil constraints.
1. The document discusses the challenges of climate change adaptation and mitigation in Vietnamese agriculture. It outlines national programs on food security and emissions reduction, and findings from studies on land use change, food security, and flooding risks under climate change.
2. Key challenges include more difficult farming conditions, high food waste, land use policy trade-offs between rice cultivation and forest protection, and fragmentation of policies and data across sectors and agencies. Addressing climate change also requires raising awareness, institutional capacity, and international cooperation.
3. Issues that need to be addressed are focusing on sustainable "better production" over just "more production", coordinating policies across levels and line agencies, and applying models and tools to integrate climate
Agricultural Drought Severity assessment using land Surface temperature and N...John Kapoi Kapoi
This study was focused on Nakuru, a tropical region in the Rift Valley of Kenya, bounded between latitude 0.28°N and 1.16°S, and longitude 36.27° E and 36.55°E. The main The main aim of this
research is to assess the agricultural drought in high potential region of Kenya with an objective of mapping the agricultural drought severity levels, assessing the precipitation and normalized difference
vegetation index deviation over its long term mean average in the region and to generate land surface temperature and emissivity maps to compare the surface temperature proportion during the drought
and normal period.
The data was obtained from NOAA-AVHRR, LANDSAT TM and ETM+ and was processed with ERDAS Imagine and GIS software of the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI).The land
surface temperature was derived using Planck’s radiative principles. The thermal band of Landsat TM was utilized to extract the radiance and brightness temperature. The brightness temperature was
combined with surface emissivity to derive the land surface temperature (LST) while NDVI was derived from bands 3 and 4 and its result was divided by the LST to determine the moisture levels.
The products were classified into five main classes to reflect the moisture levels. Rainfall and NDVI performance was also processed from NOAA AVHRR and long term mean established and compared
with the specific year of study performance.
The result of the study revealed that NOAA-AVHRR data offers very useful information in drought monitoring and early warning, LST and NDVI is useful in moisture level mapping that can be used
to detect drought and the drought in Nakuru is characterized by both low and high temperatures that exacerbates the crop failure.
Risk Analysis of Vegetables Production in Rwanda - A Case of Carrots and Cabb...Premier Publishers
This document summarizes a study on risk analysis of vegetable production in Rwanda, specifically focusing on carrots and cabbages produced in Rubavu District. It identifies the key sources of risk for vegetable farmers as perceived by farmers in the region. Through surveys of 208 smallholder farmers, the study found that crop seasonality, natural disasters, pests and diseases, lack of farmer linkages, and price fluctuations were the most important sources of risk according to the farmers. The study recommends training farmers on risk management, providing price supports, necessary infrastructure, and disease-resistant vegetable varieties.
Module 4B - EN - Promoting data use II: use in key scientific and policy areasAlberto González-Talaván
The document discusses three key cases: invasive alien species including building an official list for Mexico; conservation planning including examples from Mexico of using species occurrence data and software to identify priority sites; and climate change impacts and adaptation. It also discusses using data on invasive species, conservation planning, and climate impacts in key scientific and policy areas.
Henry Mahoo: Roles of local and indigenous knowledge weather forecasting in a...AfricaAdapt
This document summarizes a presentation on bridging indigenous and scientific knowledge for weather forecasting in Tanzania. It discusses the shortfalls of both indigenous and scientific forecasting, as well as challenges in each. A core team of experts was formed to combine indigenous and scientific forecasts to provide consensus predictions at the local level to better inform farmers' decisions. As an example, forecasts for the 2010 October-November-December season are provided, along with corresponding advice to farmers and input suppliers in one village. The conclusion emphasizes the need to downscale scientific forecasts and systematically document indigenous knowledge to meet farmers' needs.
David Orden - The Imperfect Evolution of U.S. Farm PolicyIFPRI SIG
"The Imperfect Evolution of U.S. Farm Policy:From Supply Controls and Government Stocks to Countercyclical Payments to Farmers" - David Orden
SIG 2015 Workshop "Integrating Multi-level Governance into the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Opportunities, Trade-offs, and Implications", Nov 9-10, 2015
Regulatory Status of Gene Editing: Philippinesapaari
Regulatory Status of Gene Editing: Philippines by Saturnina C Halos during the Regional Expert Consultation on Gene Editing in Agriculture and its Regulations Technical Session II
Integrated agricultural system, migration, and social protection strategies t...ILRI
Presented by Bradford Mills (Virginia Tech), Genti Kostandini (University of Georgia), Anthony Murray (Economic Research Service, USDA), Jiangfeng Gao (Virginia Tech), Joseph Rusike (AGRA), Steven Omamo, Zhe Guo and Jawoo Koo (IFPRI) at the Livestock Systems and Environment (LSE) Seminar, ILRI, Nairobi, 28 January 2015
The Regulatory Status of Genome Editing Technology in Thailand apaari
The Regulatory Status of Genome Editing Technology in Thailand by Dr. Piyarat Thammakijjawat during the Regional Expert Consultation on Gene Editing in Agriculture and its Regulations Technical Session II
This document discusses precipitation variability and drought in Iran. It provides background on Iran's precipitation climatology, noting that Iran receives an average of 246 mm of annual rainfall, which is erratic and fluctuates widely across regions. Drought is a recurring problem, with the country suffering drought every 2.5 years on average. The 2001 drought affected over 90% of the population and caused estimated losses of $900 million. The document discusses different types of drought including meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, and socioeconomic drought and their interrelationships. It also discusses various drought indices used to measure and define drought severity.
1 ijhaf aug-2017-3-long run analysis of the carryingAI Publications
This study examines the long run response of Agricultural land use indices to population growth in Nigeria. The study made use of 35 year time series data collected from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) annual reports, FAOSTAT and World Bank Statistical reports (1980-2015). Collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The result shows that agricultural land productivity in terms of cereal (rice, sorghum, millet & maize) yield exhibited a negative and significant response to population growth rate. Agricultural land use intensity showed a positive and significant response to population growth ratein Nigeria. Agricultural value added to GDP demonstrated a negative and significant response to population growth rate. Population growth and cereal yield yearly forecasts were 8.9% and 7.5% respectively.The study provided sufficient empirical evidence on relatively weak capacity of agricultural land to cereal productivity under population pressure and the need for policy on land enhancement technologies in Nigeria.
The significance of indigenous weather forecast knowledge and practices under...Premier Publishers
This paper discusses the implication of indigenous knowledge-based weather forecasts (IK-BFs) as a tool for reducing risks associated with weather variability and climate change among smallholder farmers on the south eastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Moshi Rural District of Tanzania. Participatory research approaches and household surveys were used to identify and document past and existing IK-BF practices. Local communities in the study transect use traditional experiences and knowledge to predict impending weather conditions by observing a combination of locally available indicators: plant phenology (40.80%), bird behaviour (21.33%), atmospheric changes (10.40%), insects’ behaviour (7.20%), environmental changes on Kilimanjaro, Pare and Ugweno mountains (4.80%), astronomical indicators (4.8%), animal behaviour (4.00%), water related indicators (3.73%) and traditional calendars (2.93%). The study established that 60% of farmers use and trust IK-BFs over modern science-based forecasts (SCFs). Although about 86.3% of respondents observed some correlation between IK-BFs and SCFs, and 93.6% supported integration of the two sets of information, the nature and extent of their correlation is not yet established. We none the less recommend that IK-BFs be taken into relevant national policies and development frameworks to facilitate agro-ecological conservation for use and delivery of effective weather and climate services to farming communities.
Presented by Hassan Ally Mruttu, Conrad Joseph Ndomba and Salim Werner Nandonde at the Tanzania Livestock Master Plan Technical Committee Meeting, Dar es Salaam, 23 June 2016
Oregon has a statewide land use planning program that aims to protect farmland and contain urban development through exclusive farm zones, limits on non-farm development, and urban growth boundaries. The program has been largely successful in slowing the loss of farmland, with only 1% of farmland converting to residential uses between 1982-1997 compared to over 8% in Florida. However, the program is not perfect, as urban growth boundaries still expand sometimes onto cropland and many non-farm uses are allowed in farm zones. Efforts to further improve the program include using transferable development rights and strengthening protections for rural reserves near urban areas.
Case Study to Investigate the Adoption of Precision Agriculture in Nigeria Us...Premier Publishers
This study investigated the adoption of precision farming (PF) technology with research into the possible implementation of the technology for increased productivity in a maize plantation in Nigeria. The research understands the nature of the challenges and highlights the possibility of implementing PF technology to Nigerian Agriculture. The methodology uses simple image analysis with fuzzy classification to determine the degree of spatial and temporal variability of the field to develop a treatment plan for an equally fertile and fully productive yield. The results showed that implementing precision agriculture (PA) will yield high productivity with the aid of remote sensing to obtain an aerial view of the farm. Simple PA technologies, such as using the information to determine and test soil nutrient availability to enable land preparation to obtain a uniform field, can help make the managerial decision on the farm efficiently. There is a great chance to optimize production on the field, minimise input resources, cost and maximising profit while preserving the natural environment. By using machine vision technology with fuzzy logic for decision making, not only the shape, size, colour, and texture of objects can be recognised but also numerical attributes of the objects or scene being imaged.
The online start-up workshop presented the "Building a COVID-19 Rapid Response and Ag-Foresight Department in Egypt" project’s activities and future plans, including collaborative discussion and brainstorming with stakeholders on the most relevant issues and policies in the agricultural sector’s resilience during COVID-19.
This document provides guidelines for conducting Maternal Death Reviews (MDRs) in Punjab, India. It outlines procedures for both Facility Based MDRs (FBMDRs) and Community Based MDRs (CBMDRs). FBMDRs investigate clinical and systemic causes of maternal deaths occurring in health facilities. CBMDRs interview family/community members using verbal autopsies to identify medical, socio-economic, and systemic factors contributing to maternal deaths in the community. The guidelines establish mechanisms for data collection, analysis, and follow-up actions to address gaps and prevent future deaths. They include flow charts, forms, and questionnaires to standardize the MDR process across facilities and communities. The overall aim is
The document describes using systematic field surveys across diverse landscapes to assess the effects of land use on soil health. Specifically, it discusses using a standardized Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) to collect plot and subplot data on vegetation, erosion, soil properties, and land use history from over 320 sites. This data can then be analyzed using multi-level modeling to understand relationships between inherent soil properties, land cover types, and indicators of soil health across sites. The goal is to explore these linkages and assess how land use influences soil health while accounting for inherent soil constraints.
1. The document discusses the challenges of climate change adaptation and mitigation in Vietnamese agriculture. It outlines national programs on food security and emissions reduction, and findings from studies on land use change, food security, and flooding risks under climate change.
2. Key challenges include more difficult farming conditions, high food waste, land use policy trade-offs between rice cultivation and forest protection, and fragmentation of policies and data across sectors and agencies. Addressing climate change also requires raising awareness, institutional capacity, and international cooperation.
3. Issues that need to be addressed are focusing on sustainable "better production" over just "more production", coordinating policies across levels and line agencies, and applying models and tools to integrate climate
Agricultural Drought Severity assessment using land Surface temperature and N...John Kapoi Kapoi
This study was focused on Nakuru, a tropical region in the Rift Valley of Kenya, bounded between latitude 0.28°N and 1.16°S, and longitude 36.27° E and 36.55°E. The main The main aim of this
research is to assess the agricultural drought in high potential region of Kenya with an objective of mapping the agricultural drought severity levels, assessing the precipitation and normalized difference
vegetation index deviation over its long term mean average in the region and to generate land surface temperature and emissivity maps to compare the surface temperature proportion during the drought
and normal period.
The data was obtained from NOAA-AVHRR, LANDSAT TM and ETM+ and was processed with ERDAS Imagine and GIS software of the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI).The land
surface temperature was derived using Planck’s radiative principles. The thermal band of Landsat TM was utilized to extract the radiance and brightness temperature. The brightness temperature was
combined with surface emissivity to derive the land surface temperature (LST) while NDVI was derived from bands 3 and 4 and its result was divided by the LST to determine the moisture levels.
The products were classified into five main classes to reflect the moisture levels. Rainfall and NDVI performance was also processed from NOAA AVHRR and long term mean established and compared
with the specific year of study performance.
The result of the study revealed that NOAA-AVHRR data offers very useful information in drought monitoring and early warning, LST and NDVI is useful in moisture level mapping that can be used
to detect drought and the drought in Nakuru is characterized by both low and high temperatures that exacerbates the crop failure.
Risk Analysis of Vegetables Production in Rwanda - A Case of Carrots and Cabb...Premier Publishers
This document summarizes a study on risk analysis of vegetable production in Rwanda, specifically focusing on carrots and cabbages produced in Rubavu District. It identifies the key sources of risk for vegetable farmers as perceived by farmers in the region. Through surveys of 208 smallholder farmers, the study found that crop seasonality, natural disasters, pests and diseases, lack of farmer linkages, and price fluctuations were the most important sources of risk according to the farmers. The study recommends training farmers on risk management, providing price supports, necessary infrastructure, and disease-resistant vegetable varieties.
Module 4B - EN - Promoting data use II: use in key scientific and policy areasAlberto González-Talaván
The document discusses three key cases: invasive alien species including building an official list for Mexico; conservation planning including examples from Mexico of using species occurrence data and software to identify priority sites; and climate change impacts and adaptation. It also discusses using data on invasive species, conservation planning, and climate impacts in key scientific and policy areas.
Henry Mahoo: Roles of local and indigenous knowledge weather forecasting in a...AfricaAdapt
This document summarizes a presentation on bridging indigenous and scientific knowledge for weather forecasting in Tanzania. It discusses the shortfalls of both indigenous and scientific forecasting, as well as challenges in each. A core team of experts was formed to combine indigenous and scientific forecasts to provide consensus predictions at the local level to better inform farmers' decisions. As an example, forecasts for the 2010 October-November-December season are provided, along with corresponding advice to farmers and input suppliers in one village. The conclusion emphasizes the need to downscale scientific forecasts and systematically document indigenous knowledge to meet farmers' needs.
Indigenous weather forecasting practices in eastern Africa provide important information for rural communities but face challenges. A study examined forecasting methods along Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, finding that communities use environmental indicators like plant behaviors and animal activity to predict rains. These indigenous forecasts often align with seasonal forecasts but lack documentation. The study recommends integrating indigenous and scientific forecasts by studying their scientific bases and improving forecast access and interpretation for farmers.
This document discusses how improved access to climate and weather information can help farmers adapt to climate change. It provides an example of a World Bank project that developed agroweather decision support systems in Kenya and Ethiopia. The project uses ICT tools like SMS, smartphones, and radio to disseminate seasonal forecasts, advisories, and early warnings to farmers. It aims to increase farmers' adaptive capacity by helping them make more informed management decisions about planting, fertilizing, and choosing crops. The document also outlines challenges to accessing weather data and how ICT can help address issues of data availability, usability, and timeliness to provide localized information for farmers' micro-environments.
Role of Agrometeteorology Advisory Services In AgricultureNaveen Bind
This document discusses the role of agrometeorological advisory services in agriculture. It begins with an introduction to agrometeorological advisory services provided by the India Meteorological Department to enhance crop production and food security. Advisory services are provided at the district level through agrometeorological field units. The document then discusses the objectives, importance, information needs, dissemination, tools and products used in advisory services. It provides examples of the economic and on-farm impacts of advisory services and concludes that such services play a vital role in risk mitigation for agriculture.
This is a Key NOTE Presentation to COP21- EAC Side Event: 4th December 2015.The presentation looks at the changing climate in East Africa and the climate-smart tools available.
Final Ethiopia-national-adaptation-plan (1).pdfAbraham Lebeza
This document provides an overview of Ethiopia's National Adaptation Plan (NAP-ETH). It discusses how the NAP-ETH builds on Ethiopia's existing efforts to address climate change through strategies like the Climate Resilient Green Economy strategy and Growth and Transformation Plan II. The NAP-ETH aims to strengthen integration of adaptation in Ethiopia's development by identifying priority adaptation options, establishing governance structures for implementation, and developing a monitoring and evaluation system. Key elements of the NAP-ETH include identifying the most vulnerable sectors, outlining 18 adaptation options, establishing 5 strategic priorities, and estimating implementation costs of $6 billion per year over 15 years. The document provides details on Ethiopia's climate trends and projections, development
The document discusses linking early warning systems to Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) through a pilot project. The project provided PSNP households with weather forecasts so they could adjust agricultural practices and reduce climate risks. Results showed households changed planting dates, varieties, and labor use, improving food availability and security. The summary concludes the pilot demonstrated linking early warning systems enhanced food security and resilience, and should be expanded to more households.
Establishing a platform for dialogue among key Departments at the national an...Soksophors yim
Participatory platforms enable the co-production process of climate services (CS) and provide an
opportunity to strengthen the link between the DoM and technical departments of MAFF through
regular exchange of climate information and understanding of the CS demand from agriculture
sector to develop tailored agro-advisories for planning and decision-making.
•
Effective dissemination of agro-advisories to last-mile users requires a combination of approach
(LTAC), enhancement of decision-support tool (CDT + SESAME), and utilization of various
communication channels (printed posters, Telegram, face-to-face meetings) compounded with
multi-stakeholder cooperation including government, private sector, NGOs, relevant programs and
farmer organizations, among others.
•
Collaboration with national hydromet center is critical for timely access to official seasonal climate
and short-term weather forecasts for the translation into agro-advisory. However, this necessitates
improved capacity of hydromet to provide reliable and accurate downscaled climate information
which entails further technical and financial support from government, potential donors, and private
sector cooperation to deliver agro advisory that is most appropriate to farmers’ needs on the ground.
Climate services involve the timely production, translation, and delivery of useful climate data, information
and knowledge for societal decision making. In order to create climate services for farmers that are truly
integrated with user-centric design into the development process in an African context, the study has
finished an important and crucial step by conducting a literature review and designing a prototype for the
application. The goal of this study was to create climate services for farmers in an African context that are
genuinely integrated with user-centric design. This led to the co-design and development and integration
of a mobile application that provide climate and weather information as well as agricultural
information for the main crops such millet, maize and sorghum. The research applied using qualitative
research using interview with 3 farmers in the field using random sampling with the approach to inform
the study. A survey has been administered to find out how people understand climate services, Agro
meteorology and help enhance the mobile application’s user experience. A Results shows that farmers are
determined and ready to use and excited with the application. These innovations helped farmers to reduce
the cost, increase crop capacity and profit. A hypothesis was set that there is a need forintegrating AI into
a farmer’s application for making farming process more progressive and efficient farming and the
integration of Market Place (MP) for farmer’s application to market and sell their product the integration
of notification system that allows farmers to receive real-time data and IOT for real-time data. The data
collected and the survey results demonstrated that the research objectives were being met. The study aims
to develop the application that would be scalable, durable and fault tolerant for farmers to use the
application successfully.
Climate services involve the timely production, translation, and delivery of useful climate data, information
and knowledge for societal decision making. In order to create climate services for farmers that are truly
integrated with user-centric design into the development process in an African context, the study has
finished an important and crucial step by conducting a literature review and designing a prototype for the
application. The goal of this study was to create climate services for farmers in an African context that are
genuinely integrated with user-centric design. This led to the co-design and development and integration
of a mobile application that provide climate and weather information as well as agricultural
information for the main crops such millet, maize and sorghum. The research applied using qualitative
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Meteorological and Indigenous Knowledge-Based Forecasting for Reducing Poor Populations’ Vulnerability to Climate Change and Variability
1. Meteorological and Indigenous Knowledge-
Based Forecasting for Reducing Poor
Populations’ Vulnerability to Climate Change
and Variability1
Fréjus Thoto and Saïd Hounkponou
Corresponding author: PO Box: 660 Abomey-Calavi, Benin;
Email: frejusthoto@gmail.com Phone: + (229) 96 38 60 15
Abstract
The extreme variability of climate in recent decades, is
threatening the food security of rural populations in Benin
leading to a decline in farm yields. An early warning
system and agro-meteorological information that
integrates indigenous knowledge on climate was the focus
of this project aimed at reducing vulnerability to climate
change and variability. The effective collection and
communication of requisite information was made
possible through the implementation of a multi-
stakeholders’ platform where climate data was collected
from various sources and tailored towards farmers’ needs.
The data was processed at: 1) national level where general
forecasts were made by a multi-actors panel, and 2) local
1We acknowledge financial assistance from IDRC and DFID for the
purposes of this study.
1
2. community level where general forecasts were re-adapted
to local context and during which indigenous knowledge
was integrated. The data was used to prepare bi-monthly
forecasts, which provided basic information which aided
in providing functional counseling to farmers. Seasonal
forecasts, and climate related counseling were
disseminated to farmers through local radio, extension
services and local pre-alert committees to facilitate the
farmers’ decision-taking. Given that most of the farmers
within the project area acknowledged the importance of
this climate information, about 66% of them expressed
willingness to pay in order to receive such climate-related
services. The project’s farmers consistently reported
higher yields, and correspondingly higher incomes (10%
to 80% increases relative to those not in project areas, i.e.
than those producing crops without the benefit of locally
tailored weather data). This approach could further
strengthen the adaptive capacity of rural producers to
climate change and variability.
Keywords: climate change, early warning system,
indigenous knowledge, farmers, Benin
2
3. Prévision basée sur les données
météorologiques et les connaissances
autochtones pour la réduction de la
vulnérabilité des populations pauvres à la
variabilité et aux changements Climatiques.
Résumé
L'extrême variabilité du climat observée au cours des
dernières décennies et traduite par la diminution du
rendement des cultures menace la sécurité alimentaire des
populations rurales au Bénin. L'élaboration d'un système
d'alerte précoce et d'information agro-météorologique qui
intègre les connaissances autochtones sur le climat a fait
l'objet du projet visant à réduire la vulnérabilité au
changement climatique et à la variabilité. La collecte
efficace et la communication de l'information requise a été
rendue possible grâce à la conception et la mise en œuvre
de plates-formes multi-acteurs permettant de recueillir des
données climatiques à partir de sources diverses et
adaptées aux besoins des agriculteurs. Les données sont
traitées : 1) au niveau national où les prévisions générales
sont faites par un panel multi-acteurs et 2) au niveau des
communautés locales où les prévisions générales sont
adaptées au contexte local et les connaissances
autochtones sont intégrées. Ces données sont utilisées
pour l’élaboration des prévisions bimensuelles en
fournissant des informations de base pour dispenser des
3
4. conseils fonctionnels aux agriculteurs. Des prévisions
saisonnières et des conseils relatifs au climat sont diffusés
aux agriculteurs à travers la radio locale, les services de
vulgarisation et de des comités locaux de pré-alerte en vue
de faciliter la prise de décision par les agriculteurs. Vu que
la plupart des agriculteurs au sein de la zone du projet
reconnaissent l'importance de ces informations
climatiques, environ 66% d'entre ceux-ci ont manifesté la
volonté de payer pour bénéficier de ces services
climatiques. Les agriculteurs participant au projet
déclarent constamment des rendements plus élevés, et des
revenus d'autant plus élevés (une augmentation de 10 à
80% par rapport aux zones en dehors de la zone du projet),
que ceux des paysans qui ne bénéficient pas des données
météorologiques locales adaptées. Cette approche pourrait
renforcer la capacité d'adaptation des producteurs ruraux
aux changements climatiques et à la variabilité.
Mots clés: changement climatique, système d'alerte
précoce, connaissances autochtones, agriculteurs, Benin.
4
5. Introduction
The Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC (2007)
demonstrated conclusively that climate change continues
to pose serious threats to growth and sustainable
development in Africa, hence impeding the achievement
of the MDGs (UNDP, 2007). This threat particularly puts
Benin on a delicate precipice because agriculture remains
the basis of its economy. Although several studies have
been conducted on the adaptive capacities of Benin
farmers and rural communities to climate change and
variability, a holistic approach which involves the
communities themselves would be more sustainable.
Hence the relevance of this approach which uses available
climate information to anticipate and manage annual
climate-related risks (Tarhule 2005; Washington et al.
2006). Climate information is usually available from two
main sources: meteorological seasonal climate forecasts
(SCFs) and indigenous knowledge-based seasonal
forecasts (IKFs) (Ziervogel, 2010). SCFs are generated in
Benin by the national meteorological services using
models and empirical data. This specialized, scientific
institution generates weather and climate related products
within the guidelines set by the World Meteorological
Organization. Their work is supplemented by other
regional and international climate centers including the
African Centre of Meteorological Applications for
Development (ACMAD), the Centre Régional de
Formation et d’Application en Agrométéorologie et
5
6. Hydrologie Opérationelle (AGRHYMET). On the other
hand, IKFs are produced locally by people who live in the
area for which the prediction is made. They are often
based on generations of experience and include both
biophysical and mystical indicators. This paper highlights
the experience of Benin in providing farmers with climate
information and related counsel by integrating seasonal
climate forecasts and indigenous knowledge-based
seasonal forecasts to reduce the vulnerability of the
agricultural sector.
Methodology
Data collection
Rainfall and phenological data are essential in the
implementation of an early warning and agro-
meteorological information system. Therefore, rainfall
data was collected from 20 meteorological stations of the
national meteorological services located within six
departments of Benin. The data was supplemented by
climate advisories, weather prediction products made up
by the African Centre for Meteorological Applications for
Development. In order to strengthen the early warning
system, phenological data from 18 municipalities were
collected every ten days. And for each municipality, five
farm observations were made per decade.
6
7. Climate information system implementation
The first component of the agro-meteorological
information production chain was the National Committee
for Early Warning and Agro-meteorological Information.
The committee was made up of the following: Ministry of
Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, Universities,
National Meteorological Service, and Farmers
Organizations. This committee was responsible for the
production and validation of the agro-meteorological
bulletin. With climate and phenological data collected, a
first draft of the bulletin was developed by the national
meteorological service experts. Then a workshop was held
by the national committee who gathered multidisciplinary
and complementary skills to improve and validate the
contents of the bulletin. The product derived from this
workshop was a weather bulletin and general agriculture
climate-related advice that applied to farms throughout the
country. The second component of the agro-
meteorological information production chain was the
Local Committee for Early Warning and Agro-
meteorological Information. This committee was made up
of agricultural extension services, farmers, local
authorities and local radios. The work of this committee
was based on the weather bulletin developed by the
national committee. The national bulletin contained
general information that was not regionally targeted.
Information was then localized and adapted to particular
7
8. conditions of each region by the local stakeholders who
comprised the local committee.
Integrating indigenous knowledge
Several natural indicators such as the moon and
constellation movements, tree species and birds were
listed by traditional leaders, farming communities with
rich experience of several weather events or climate risks
since the 1950s. Cultural models used by local farmers in
predicting weather included various patterns of upstream
and downstream events during the seasons. Some
examples include the following:
Constellation movements and moon
predictions: According to the observation
According to the observation of some group of men
surveyed in the study area, whenever clusters of stars
(locally known as eza) appeared in the East during the
month of May, it was a sign that the rainy season would
be good. When the opposite occurred during this period,
producers should expect that the production might not be
good during the season. The people surveyed in rural Adja
community also mentioned that whenever there was a
heavy rainfall within the period between 25th January and
5th February it was an indication that the year would be a
normal year.
8
9. Use of plant species in predictions
Adja communities revealed that when the first rains from
February to mid-March were ‘sweeping’ the flowers of the
shrub species Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, it was a sign of
a good season. Farmers claimed that some tree species
provided a benchmark during the rainy season and
especially so during the second bimodal rainy season
which is characteristic of central parts of Benin. For
example, the appearance of red flowers of Erythrina
senegalensis in August or September was an indication of
an end of the season. Analysis in connection with the
agricultural calendar showed that these indigenous
knowledge-based predictions often coincided with
scientific prediction.
Use of bird species in prediction:
According to farmers, the behavior of certain species of
birds could aid in predicting a rainy season. Investigations
showed that the bird called toucan appeared to be the most
common indicator. The communities hinted that whenever
the toucans multiplied the frequency of their songs
between February and March, it meant that the rainy
season was close. The communities mentioned that this
same bird’s behavior usually boosted the psychological
morale of producers as they prepared their farming plots –
i.e. such farmers got more and more convinced that the
9
10. rains would arrive within days. This indicator seemed to
be well known and understood by rural communities
throughout Benin. The bird species Bulbucus ibis was also
stated as a good indicator of on-coming weather events.
The appearance of the ibis in villages in Benin indicated
that the rainy season was over – such a presence
announced the beginning of a dry season. At such
instances, the producers always began the construction of
‘fire fences’ to protect their plots from dry season fires.
Customs and practices in the prediction
Unlike the observation and use of natural indicators in
weather prediction, the practice of divination and other
spiritual practices in predicting or inducing rain are the
prerogative of traditional “rainmakers”. In Benin some
traditional leaders hold mystical powers that help alleviate
the problems caused by absence of rainfall or dry spells
occurring during the rainy season. The deities that are
often talked about are “Hêviosso”, “Sakpata” and
“Tohossou”. Societies in which such beliefs are practiced
were organized in a way that at the end of the rainy season
and after harvesting, producers present gifts to traditional
leaders requesting them to prepare for a better future
season. Ultimately, such indigenous knowledge are
sometimes integrated in the analysis of scientific bulletin
produced by the national weather committee. This
integration is done at the local level by local committees
that involve experienced producers.
10
11. Information dissemination and feedback
Data produced through these methods are used to devise
pieces of advice which are disseminated by local
committee’s members, the agricultural extension officers
and local radio. In this manner, information feedbacks
from producers are provided to the national committee for
improvements of future weather bulletins. This agro-
meteorological information dissemination usually began
in early growing season or March, and ended in late
season or November.
Generated knowledge
Relevant knowledge was generated from the
implementation of the early warning and agro-
meteorological information system. The first was related
to the strategy of setting up and managing this kind of
innovative system. It is important to point out that
originally the weather data provided by the National
Meteorological Agency were used only for air navigation
purposes and were not usually disseminated. But the
project succeeded in exploiting some of the data for
agriculture purposes. Thus, despite the fact that Benin
does not have the means of making detailed seasonal
forecasts for different climate zones, this project
demonstrated that it is possible to establish trends in
climate that may improve the counseling provided to
farmers on planting and harvesting dates. On the other
11
12. hand, activities undertaken through this project indicated
that indigenous knowledge on climate could also be useful
for scientific forecasts.
Impacts on food security
The natural factor determining the evolution of food
insecurity in Benin remains unquestionably climate
variability. Small farmers are trying to redefine the space-
time organization of their agricultural work. Therefore an
approach for agricultural adaptation to climate change in
Benin would be related to the adjustment of how
producers manage their farms regarding climate change
and weather events. The technical itineraries used hitherto
in predicting weather in Benin, were established within a
context where climatic factors were not a major constraint.
Today, however, climate change has become a key
variable, and the use of an adapted crop management
system would be an approach second to none in Benin’s
continued agricultural development as the climate
changes. One solution to overcome this issue is to provide
tailor-made climate forecasts which could facilitate the
counseling services provided to farmers in order to
empower them to better adapt to the present and future
effects of climate change and climate variability. Such
counsel should be related to agricultural calendars and
prevailing producer practices. The decision to plant or
even harvest depends on climate risk factors faced by the
farmer.
12
13. This is the core of this system that being implemented as
demonstrated in this project. Information provided by the
system helps producers to minimize losses in the face of
unfavorable climate events. Results from this study
indicated that 92% of farmers who received this climate-
related agricultural information were convinced of their
relevance, and they planned their activities based such
data. Moreover, 66% of these producers were willing to
pay to receive such agricultural information. It was
observed that farmers using such information reported
higher yields, and correspondingly higher incomes, than
those producing crops without the benefit of locally
tailored climate information. The impacts of this early
warning system and agro-meteorological information on
reducing the vulnerability of small producers and even
food insecurity in Africa have also been demonstrated by
similar studies conducted by the Institut de Recherche
pour le Développement (IRD) in Senegal and Niger (IRD,
2011). These studies revealed that adjusting cropping
strategies using forecasts and agro-meteorological
information could allow up to 80% yield increases in areas
where cash crops such as groundnuts were grown, as in
the Saloum Delta. In Niger similar climate prediction had
been used to assist farmers increase their revenues up to
30%. This indicates that using agro-meteorological
information to adjust the cropping and other technical
itineraries in anticipation of climate events could be
helpful to farmers.
13
14. Conclusions
Preliminary results from this study indicate that
integrating climate prediction in the design of counseling
services provided to farmers would be useful in countries
heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture. The experience
of the early warning and agro-meteorological information
system could be a means to foster the dynamics on the
value of agro- meteorological information in the
agricultural production system in Benin, especially within
the context of climate change. The adoption of this
approach has also facilitated multiinstitutional
collaboration, the sharing of skills, and creation of
linkages to traditional practices, beliefs and knowledge for
the benefit of the producers.
References
IRD (2011), Prédire la pluie pour réduire l’insécurité
alimentaire, Actualité scientifique, n°372. 2 p.
M.L. Parry, O.F. Canziani, J.P. Palutikof, P.J. van der
Linden and C.E. Hanson (eds). 2007. Contribution of
Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New
York, NY, USA.
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15. Tarhule, A.A. 2005. Climate information for
development: an integrated dissemination model.
Presented at the 11th General Assembly of the Council for
the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, 6–
10 December 2005, Maputo, Mozambique.
UNDP (2007), Human Development Report, UNDP,
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Washington, R.; Harrison, M.; Conway, D.; Black, E.;
Challinor, A.; Grimes, D.; Jones, R.; Morse, A.; Kay, G.;
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16. Article Citation
Thoto, F., & Hounkponou S. (2012). Meteorological and
Indigenous Knowledge-Based Forecasting for Reducing Poor
Populations’ Vulnerability to Climate Change and Variability.
In P. Sérémé & H. Roy-Macauley (Eds.), Empowering the
Rural Poor to Adapt to Climate Change and Variability in West
and Central Africa. Paper presented at the CORAF/WECARD
3rd Agricultural Science Week and 10th General Assembly,
Ndjamena, Chad, 2012 (pp. 96-101). Senegal:
CORAF/WECARD.
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