Climate Exchange

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griculture

BMKG runs the CFS programme through a close collab-

oration with extension workers belonging to MoA as well

as a group of farmers in the region. The role of BMKG is as

the information provider, whereas the extension workers

serve facilitating farmers in helping to interpret and trans-

late the climate information in the field.

The syllabus covers a wide range of subjects, includ-

ing the impact of climate change on plants and livestock

and on agriculture; adaptation and mitigation strate-

gies; understanding weather and climate characteristics;

and simple measurement practices and water balance

approximation for soil moisture. It also addresses the

use of seasonal forecasts for the planting strategy and

calendar; the economic value of seasonal forecasts; and

anticipation of crop diseases and pests.

The main objective of CFS is to transform technical

climate information into the practical language of farmers.

BMKG as a provider needs facilitators through whom the

farmers can easily understand and capture climate infor-

mation. The extension workers serve this role.

CFS proceeds in three stages, as follows:

First stage – providing ‘training for trainers’.

Representatives of local government and the regional

office of MoA are assisted to comprehend climate infor-

mation provided by BMKG. The main objectives at this

stage are to comprehend climate information, design

the dissemination format and introduce simple tech-

niques to observe and simulate climate variables.

Second stage – preparing those who will work with

farmers. The trainers trained in the first stage will play

a pivotal role in the second stage, in which almost all

participants are those who are expected to deal directly

with farmers. This stage covers introducing methods to

implement climate information for agriculture purposes;

designing planting schemes and plans based on the

climate information; and motivating farmers to be aware

of climate factors.

Third stage – working with farmers. In the final stage,

the knowledge obtained in the second stage is imple-

mented directly to farmers in the field. The purpose of

Training of extension workers takes place in the first and

second stages

Image: BMKG Indonesia

A considerable task

Indonesia is flanked by two oceans and two continents. As a tropical

archipelago, it is also crossed by the mountainous ‘ring of fire’ and is

prone to extreme weather and climates. The long distance between

the furthest eastern and western regions provides no easy alternatives

to cope with climate and weather problems. There are 342 climate

zones based on different climate patterns, and 73 are areas where the

wet and dry seasonal onset cannot be accurately identified.

CFS activity encompasses three purposes as follows:

• Improving farmers’ climate knowledge and their ability to antici-

pate extreme climate events in their farming activities

• Assisting farmers in observing climatic parameters and using

applications in their farming activities and strategy

• Helping farmers to translate and understand the climate (forecast)

information for supporting farming activities, especially for plant-

ing decisions and cropping strategy.

CFS as a facilitative programme was launched in 2003. However,

its effective implementation has been more widely accepted since

2007. As a programme which promotes the importance of climate

information in supporting the agricultural sector and enhancing the

capability of farmers to make proper adjustments and adaptations

to climate variability and change in Indonesia, CFS is focused more

on the regions that are most potentially vulnerable and on areas

known as food production centres.

Source: BMKG Indonesia

BMKG’s Monthly rainfall prediction