Climate Exchange

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griculture

Society and Météo-France, by collaborating with other

initiatives, such as the Caribbean Climate Outlook

Forum (CariCOF),

that work closely with them. CIMH

coordinates these networking efforts on behalf of the

Caribbean countries. CAMI emphasizes training of

meteorological and agricultural services personnel in

relevant aspects of agro-meteorology. Capacity has also

been built in the regional research institutes (CIMH,

CARDI), through working with international scientists

and attachments at leading international institutes. The

regional research institutions have, and will continue to

expand the experience and knowledge gained, as they

train people across the region.

Capacity building

CAMI sought to build the capacity of national

meteorological services (NMSs), CIMH, CARDI,

and agricultural extension services and farmers (as

users) in the Caribbean through a series of training

workshops, international attachments and farmers’

forums. The NMSs, and CIMH and CARDI as product

developers, researchers and trainers were the main

targets of the training workshops and international

attachments, whereas training was provided in

interpretation of products and agro-meteorological

needs of the region mainly through farmers’ forums.

Capacity was also, and continues to be, built through

the provision of tools such as those which estimate

evapotranspiration and water use needs, evaluate the

the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute

(CARDI), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and 10

National Meteorological Services of CARICOM states to implement

the initiative. The overarching objective of CAMI is to increase and

sustain agricultural productivity at the farm level through improved

applications of weather and climate information, using an integrated

and coordinated approach. This is specifically done by providing

information on seasonal rainfall prediction, which in turn supports

improved irrigation management, development of pest and disease

forecasting systems for improved on-farm management decisions,

and crop simulation modelling. This is achieved through the

preparation and wide distribution of user-friendly weather and

climate information newsletters and bulletins and the organization

of regular forums with the farming community and agricultural

extension agencies, to promote a better understanding of the appli-

cations of weather and climate information and to obtain feedback

to provide better products from the meteorological services for use

by the farming community.

Given the small size of the Caribbean countries, there is a lack

of trained manpower to provide agro-meteorological services and

applications on an individual country basis. But through a concerted

regional approach, such services could be made available to the

farming community. Hence this action emphasizes the promotion of

an integrated approach to sustainable development in the Caribbean

through coordination and networking of the limited meteorologi-

cal services available in the region. CAMI, now in its final year,

has established closer contacts with the WMO Agrometeorology

Division, with Global Producing Centres of Long-range Forecasts,

in particular the International Research Institute for Climate and

A tercile forecast produced at the beginning of January 2010 (A), indicating likely drier than normal conditions in most of the Caribbean;

(B) three-month deciles showing the rainfall status in the Caribbean with a clear indication of severely dry conditions by December 2009 (Decile 1 – red area);

and (C) a three-month decile showing severely dry conditions for January-March 2010 – as suggested by the forecast

Source: CIMH