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A
griculture
Crop
2011/2012
2010/2011
Average
Difference %
2006-2010
2011/2010
2011/average
(2006-2010)
Rice (upland)
57,074
51,327
49,662
11.2
32.9
Rice (lowland)
102,880
90,134
59,211
14.1
151.7
Rice (mangrove)
69,696
63,779
44,078
9.3
150.4
Rice SAB*
3,800
4,000
3,800
-5.0
-5.0
Total rice
233,449
209,240
156,751
11.6
101.9
Maize
6,639
5,819
15,541
14.1
-75.8
Sorghum
23,058
20,223
18,172
14.0
27.3
Mil
16,221
15,004
25,175
8.1
-54.2
Fonio
553
524
740
5.6
-59.2
Dry cereal SAB
1,300
1,500
1,514
-13.3
-14.1
Total dry cereal
47,772
43,070
61,757
10.9
-43.0
Grand total
281,221
252,310
218,508
11.5
41.0
Cassava
19,922
17,852
Na
11.6
Na
Sweet potato
11,986
10,318
Na
16.2
Na
Peanut
42,759
36,177
Na
18.2
Na
Cowpea
554
515
Na
7.5
Na
Agricultural production 2011/12
*Sector Autonomo de Bissau. Na = Data not available
Source: NIM
• Monitoring of agro-meteorological crops each month during
the rainy season (from May to November), with reports
provided to various institutions such as the Ministry of
Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
World Food Programme (WFP), UNDP and so on
• Data and climate information to users
• Agro-meteorological services.
These products and services are the basis for the management of
socioeconomic issues for users such as the agrarian sector, where
they power the early warning system for food security. The are
provided at zero cost to major users such as:
• Policymakers and ministers
• Agricultural products (GTP/Agrhymet)
• Development partner organizations
• Various private users
• Environment (special services).
Certain conditions, such as the need for databases and software,
and for appropriate quality data observed from stations outside
regular inspections, make it difficult to provide these services and
may affect the quality of the products developed, significantly
reducing the contribution of this service to development, disaster
risk reduction and adaptation to climate change in agriculture.
Delivering climate services to users
The effect of climate on agriculture has always been based on
empirical knowledge. That knowledge continues to dominate
certain cultural practices, especially in a country like Guinea
Bissau where the enrolment rate for climate services and the
rate of intervention in agricultural rural areas is relatively low.
It is a challenge to filter scientific information into this environ-
ment, and the first task is to offer practical demonstrations of
the benefits of this information in relation to empiri-
cal knowledge. This will help farmers to abandon
their customary practices, and facilitate acceptance
of scientific tools for climate change adaptation and
the dissemination of climate information to the most
vulnerable group of users.
Dissemination of climate information services
for the rural areas is provided by various partners
involved in areas such as rural agricultural projects,
non-governmental organizations, the GTP – which
manages crop monitoring activities – and also by
the press. Another way is to disseminate informa-
tion through the Minister of Agriculture and Rural
Development, which does not start a crop without
the results of the consensus seasonal forecast from
PRESAO, coordinated by the African Centre for
Meteorological Applications for Development. In this
ceremony the Minister informs farmers on seasonal
rain forecasting for the season and the necessary
measures to take. All information generated by this
service is given in the form of meteorology bulletins
for different users or a printed report. In some cases,
such as seasonal forecasting, a feedback session is
organized and several partners are invited. Weak
financial and material resources are limiting factors
in the process of information dissemination.
INM, which is part of the climatological service,
currently operates both the investment and the opera-
tion of the national budget of the state through its
Ministry Affiliation: Department of Social Equipment.
Given the current economic challenges facing the
country, which have been exacerbated by the crisis
caused by the politico-military conflict of 1998-1999,