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A
griculture
information to enable farmers to cope with climate vari-
ability and change.
Preliminary evaluation of the impacts produced
by these climate and weather services indicates that
there is benefit in terms of increased crop production,
mainly accruing from increased use of weather and
climate information. The supporting technical informa-
tion from the agricultural and livestock sector further
amplifies these benefits as farmers apply better farm
management practices based on climate and weather
information.
Weather-based advisory service
The predictability of the “Short Rains” (October-
November-December) seasonal forecast over much of the
south-eastern lowlands and eastern parts of Kenya takes a
lot of skill due to the high influence of El Niño Southern
Oscillation phenomena on the local climate. The
weather-based agro-advisory service was piloted during
the 2006-2010 crop season in Machakos, Makueni and
Kitui counties. The advisories were aimed at bridging the
gap between information availability and usability. The
weather-based agro-advisory is a succinct summary of
the agricultural activities that team of agricultural experts
from the Ministry of Agriculture and KARI and climate
experts from the Kenya Meteorological Department
Given the above challenges, the following measures are proposed
to ensure effective exploitation of valuable weather and climate
information:
•
Create links between meteorologists and end users of forecast
information to develop use-oriented products
•
Communicate the information in the users’ local languages
•
Develop techniques for raising the awareness of user
communities on the benefits of using climate information in
decision-making
•
Demonstrate the economic value of applying climate information
and prediction products in socioeconomic development
•
Improve the modes of communication.
Various collaborative efforts – most of them in the marginal areas
of Kenya – are involving a range of institutions to support farmers
in coping with climate variability. These initiatives include:
Sustainable Agricultural Livelihoods Initiative
The Sustainable Agricultural Livelihoods Initiative project is being
implemented by Christian Aid, the Christian Community Services
of Mount Kenya East, the Anglican Church of Kenya Diocese of
Mbeere and Traidcraft East Africa. The agriculture project located
in Mbeere, Embu County, focuses on innovations in agriculture and
has a strong component on use of climate science information.
The forecasts are repackaged into user-friendly weather informa-
tion products and developed into related advisories for crop farmers
and pastoralists. The information is regularly disseminated through
various channels such as:
•
Workshops, mainly at the beginning of seasons to give seasonal
climate outlooks
•
Field days
•
SMS-based messages
•
Church gatherings
•
Other forms of media (print, radio, TV, internet and telephone).
Based on the forecasts, farmers make guided decisions about the
kinds of farming technologies to employ for increased food produc-
tion and food security.
In all these sites the involvement of technical extension serv-
ices from the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Health and
research institutions like the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
(KARI) are used to advise of agronomic and other management prac-
tices that would ensure the farmers reap maximum benefits. The
common theme of these projects is the use of climate and weather
Location
Extremely useful
59%
77%
69%
Usefulness (%)
Willingness to pay
Somewhat useful
33%
29%
22%
Not very useful
0%
3%
3%
81%
85%
96%
Kitui
Mwingi
Mutomo
27
39
26
Total
farmers
(No)
Farmer assessment of usefulness of advisories in planning farm operations
Source: KMD
Image: KMD
A field visit by experts and farmers