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In Zimbabwe, subsistence farmers, particularly those in dry regions, remain vulnerable to the dangerous impacts of climate change, partly blamed on ineffective weather communications.
Now, questions are being asked: what are the most sustainable approaches for climate adaptation in the different regions of Zimbabwe and how do we scale them up?
Options are many, but the provision of education and information are key. Oxfam International, the Meteorological Services Department and Agritex have partnered to strengthen weather and climate change information dissemination systems in Gutu, Chirumanzu and Zvishavane until 2015.
Mr Sebastian Grey of Oxfam International told a climate change workshop in Harare recently that the project was aimed at building climate resilience for smallholder farmers in the Midlands and Masvingo provinces.
It also focussed on building capacity and sharing of information as well as strengthening other existing interventions on food security.
To achieve this, 15 sets of manual weather equipment and three automatic weather stations had been acquired and were currently being prepared for installation.
Mr Grey said the equipment would support 15 wards in the specific project zone and aid the MSD and Agritex in gathering of district level weather and climate data.
By end of the project, “we expect smallholder farmers in Gutu, Chirumanzu and Zvishavane to have increased access to local level weather, climate and agro-meteorological information services as well as improved knowledge on climate change.
“We also expect the project information and learning to be documented and shared with communities, stakeholders and policy- makers on local, national and global levels,” he said
The needed changes
The climate is changing and farmers in the three districts know it. Rains are starting late while seasonal rainfall has significantly reduced. Results of a baseline survey carried out within Gutu, Chirumanzu and Zvishavane revealed stinging discords on the availability and accessibility of weather and climate data.
It showed that information was not readily available and farmers depended on a single source -the radio – for accessing it.
When available, the weather data was always late and ineffective, “as the forecast was for Masvingo or Midlands and not for specific locations within those provinces”.
Mr Grey said there was a lot of scope for using ICTs to bridge this information gap, as mobile phone usage in these areas was high.
“The information people want is advice on farming or livelihoods that is based on site- specific weather information and not necessarily weather information on its own,” he said.
“People would rather get information from face-to-face meetings from Agritex and would want the information monthly especially during the rainy season.”
According to the survey, vegetable gardens were the most common source of income, but droughts and frost were also frequent, affecting production.
To minimise risk, Mr Grey said the main adaptation strategy was to change the planting dates and promote the use of short-season varieties and small grains.
He spoke of the need to revolutionise information systems and allow for processes that deliver relevant climate information to the farmer fast.
Indeed, accessible area-specific weather and climate information is instrumental for effective extension work, the development of agriculture as well as building climate resilience.
This information helps small-scale farmers become more self-reliant in handling weather and climate events that impact agricultural production.
Through the use of such data, farmers could increase preparedness as well as attain better economic, social and environmental outcomes for agricultural productivity.
National climate change co-ordinator in the Ministry of Environment Mr Washington Zhakata told the same workshop that to ensure long-term sustainability, it was important that communities were encouraged to take control of the projects.
In several instances, countrywide surveys by the ministry had shown consistent failure of similar projects after financiers leave because communities did not have a sense of ownership and income was weak, he said.
The areas of Gutu, Chirumanzu, Zvishavane and most of the Midlands, Matabeleland and Masvingo have experienced the harshest impacts of climate change in Zimbabwe.
According to the Meteorological Office, rainfall has declined noticeably throughout Zimbabwe since the early 1900s.
Over the northern half of the country, rainfall has fallen 5 percent and 15 percent in the southern and western parts. The frequency and extremity of droughts in Masvingo and Matabeleland is very high.
God is faithful
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