503
access and use of weather and climate information, as well as climate services, were
reported to be variable across institutional levels. At district and local levels, it is particularly important to ensure that efforts are made to improve access and availability to
address inequality in the systematic provision of weather and climate information.
However, improving availability, awareness and access to weather and climate information, including services, will not be enough in itself; these findings show that smallscale farmers in both villages encounter difficulties in using weather and climate
information, due to various barriers. The first major one is that the information provided is too generic, making it difficult for users to make decisions due to a lack of
detail. Another barrier is the technical nature of the provided weather and climate information, with respondents reporting that information received is difficult to understand
due to their low levels of education and also due to the language used in the information
being too complex and not simple enough for everyone to understand. A further barrier
is the low reliability of information, with most respondents claiming that the weather
forecasts and climate information received was mostly unreliable.
The findings on factors for enhancing access to and use of weather and climate
information by smallholder farmers revealed that the issue of reliability of weather
and climate information is vital for user satisfaction. It is well known that establishing credibility and trust in such information systems takes a long time. It is therefore
important to ensure that users are not disappointed, to ensure that they continue to
use and benefit from them. In general, respondents recognised that there was always
uncertainty involved when using weather and climate information, whether scientific
or traditional. There may also be differences in the credibility of information. In this
regard, the TMA may assess forecast accuracy using scientific measures, but not be
aware if such measures are relevant to users at the local level. Until this is addressed,
scientists may continue to believe that they are producing reliable information, while
local users mistrust it.
It important to note that the study was based on a very particular case that does
not represent all of Tanzania. The geographic area of the study was small and a site
for commercial agriculture, with more access to climate information due to the presence of Illovo Sugar Company. These findings are thus limited to the context of the
study. Despite this limitation, the study provides key considerations for working
towards enhancing farmers’ access to and use of weather and climate information
for improved agricultural production.
5 Recommendations
Based on the above findings and conclusions, the following recommendations
are made:
Provide education/training on climate services and information. Training should be
provided to smallholder farmers on the interpretation and use of weather and
climate information, for its use decision-making regarding their agricultural
activities.
Availability, Access and Use of Weather and Climate Information by Smallholder…
access and use of weather and climate information, as well as climate services, were
reported to be variable across institutional levels. At district and local levels, it is particularly important to ensure that efforts are made to improve access and availability to
address inequality in the systematic provision of weather and climate information.
However, improving availability, awareness and access to weather and climate information, including services, will not be enough in itself; these findings show that smallscale farmers in both villages encounter difficulties in using weather and climate
information, due to various barriers. The first major one is that the information provided is too generic, making it difficult for users to make decisions due to a lack of
detail. Another barrier is the technical nature of the provided weather and climate information, with respondents reporting that information received is difficult to understand
due to their low levels of education and also due to the language used in the information
being too complex and not simple enough for everyone to understand. A further barrier
is the low reliability of information, with most respondents claiming that the weather
forecasts and climate information received was mostly unreliable.
The findings on factors for enhancing access to and use of weather and climate
information by smallholder farmers revealed that the issue of reliability of weather
and climate information is vital for user satisfaction. It is well known that establishing credibility and trust in such information systems takes a long time. It is therefore
important to ensure that users are not disappointed, to ensure that they continue to
use and benefit from them. In general, respondents recognised that there was always
uncertainty involved when using weather and climate information, whether scientific
or traditional. There may also be differences in the credibility of information. In this
regard, the TMA may assess forecast accuracy using scientific measures, but not be
aware if such measures are relevant to users at the local level. Until this is addressed,
scientists may continue to believe that they are producing reliable information, while
local users mistrust it.
It important to note that the study was based on a very particular case that does
not represent all of Tanzania. The geographic area of the study was small and a site
for commercial agriculture, with more access to climate information due to the presence of Illovo Sugar Company. These findings are thus limited to the context of the
study. Despite this limitation, the study provides key considerations for working
towards enhancing farmers’ access to and use of weather and climate information
for improved agricultural production.
5 Recommendations
Based on the above findings and conclusions, the following recommendations
are made:
Provide education/training on climate services and information. Training should be
provided to smallholder farmers on the interpretation and use of weather and
climate information, for its use decision-making regarding their agricultural
activities.
Availability, Access and Use of Weather and Climate Information by Smallholder…