In order to adapt effectively and help mitigate climate change, farmers need climate information and services.
The WMO and WFO organized a seminar on climate services in Niigata Japan last April 14.
AFA attended the meeting through its KM Officer in order to learn more about climate services and its relevance to farmers.
During the seminar, AFA was able to share some of its initiatives on climate adaptation and the climate information and services that its members need.
Robert Carlson of WFO welcomed everyone to the seminar and highlighted the importance of climate services for farmers. He emphasized the farming is not public service but is a business that farmers engage in for their families and their livelihoods.
Robert Stefanski presented WMO’s agrometeorological services and the importance of climate forecasting for farmers.
WMO produced a draft publication called Climate Easy in order to disseminate information on climate change impact on agriculture and the different adaptation and mitigation efforts that can be undertaken by farmers.
During the workshop, an exercise on agricultural decision making using a computerized system of risk assessment and climate forecasting was done.
It helped participants appreciate the importance of good quality climate information, which always affects farm level decisions.
Peter Prins of LTO Netherlands presented their climate project in Cambodia and Uganda, which underscore the importance of making climate information accessible and useful to farmers.
Sok Sotha of CFAP and a representative from Uganda shared the results of their projects.
The feedback gathered from participants will be used to further improve WMO’s climate information and services for farmers.
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