Best of both worlds : Co-producing climate services that integrate scientific and indigenous weather and seasonal climate forecast for water management and food production in Ghana

Nyadzi, Emmanuel

doi:10.18174/515697

Cited by 5 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 243 publications

(374 reference statements)

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“…In line with our results, many previous studies found that coproduction is an efficient way to reach out to and engage smallholder farmers and build trust and user confidence [16,21,28]. Consistent with the literature, our results suggest that capacity building is essential to the success of coproduction [16,17,58].…”

Section: Evaluation Of the Coproduction Experimentssupporting

confidence: 92%

Coproducing Weather Forecast Information with and for Smallholder Farmers in Ghana: Evaluation and Design Principles

et al. 2020

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Many West African farmers are struggling to cope with changing weather and climatic conditions. This situation limits farmers’ ability to make optimal decisions for food and income security. Developing more useful and accessible weather and climate information services (WCIS) can help small-scale farmers improve their adaptive capacity. The literature suggests that such WCIS can be achieved if forecast information is produced jointly by farmers and scientists. To test this hypothesis and derive design requirements for effective WCIS, we evaluated the outcomes of an experimental coproduction of weather forecasts in Ada, Ghana. The experiment involved a user-driven design and testing of information and communications technology (ICT)-based digital (smartphones and apps) and rainfall monitoring tools by 22 farmers. They collected data and received weather forecasts during the 2018/2019 study period. The results showed a positive evaluation of the intervention, expressed by the level of engagement, the increase in usability of the tools and understanding of forecast uncertainty, outreach capacity with other farmers, and improved daily farming decisions. The success of the intervention was attributed to the iterative design process, as well as the training, monitoring, and technical support provided. We conclude that the application of modern technology in a coproduction process with targeted training and monitoring can improve smallholder farmers’ access to and use of weather and climate forecast information.

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Section: Evaluation Of the Coproduction Experimentssupporting

confidence: 92%

Coproducing Weather Forecast Information with and for Smallholder Farmers in Ghana: Evaluation and Design Principles

et al. 2020

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“…In Ghana, too, these obstacles affect smallholder farmers' access to, reliance on and use of WCIS in farm decision-making (Yaro, 2013, Codjoe et al, 2014, Nyadzi, 2020. Many Ghanaian farmers still rely mainly on local or traditional knowledge to make decisions on farm operations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Particularly in today's context of increasing weather and climate variability, farmers need improved knowledge to base their responses to uncertainties regarding the weather and climate (Codjoe et al, 2014, Nyadzi, 2020.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Information about users' specific needs and local data can be employed to adjust and tailor weather and climate model outputs to meet end-users' specific needs. Also, the many scholars who have compared modern and traditional knowledge on weather and climate have found positive connections between the two knowledge systems, and recommend creation of a new knowledge system that synergizes the two systems for greater accuracy (Speranza et al, 2010, Chisadza et al, 2015, Balehegn et al, 2019, Nyadzi, 2020. Nonetheless, current WCIS undertakings in Africa, including in Ghana, operate based only on modern forecasting knowledge, mostly using a one-directional approach, with little focus on understanding users' specific requirements and integrating local forecasting knowledge into modern, scientific systems (Hansen, 2002, Lourenço et al, 2016.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nonetheless, current WCIS undertakings in Africa, including in Ghana, operate based only on modern forecasting knowledge, mostly using a one-directional approach, with little focus on understanding users' specific requirements and integrating local forecasting knowledge into modern, scientific systems (Hansen, 2002, Lourenço et al, 2016. This, possibly, limits the credibility, trust and acceptance of WCIS by local-level users such as smallholder farmers (Ingram et al, 2002, Kniveton et al, 2015, Nyadzi, 2020. The research presented in this dissertation explores the potential for improving the quality, accessibility and usefulness of weather and climate forecast information for smallholder farmers in Ghana.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Designing agrometeorological information services in Ghana by combining local and scientific forecasting knowledge

Gbangou¹

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Digital Platforms in Climate Information Service Delivery for Farming in Ghana

Sarku

Appiah

Adiku

et al. 2021

African Handbook of Climate Change Adaptation

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Phone-based applications, Internet connectivity, and big data are enabling climate change adaptations. From ICT for development and agriculture perspectives, great interest exists in how digital platforms support climate information provision for smallholder farmers in Africa. The vast majority of these platforms both private and public are for delivering climate information services and for data collection. The sheer number of digital platforms in the climate information sector has created a complex information landscape for potential information users, with platforms differing in information type, technology, geographic coverage, and financing structures and infrastructure. This chapter mapped the existing climate information services and examined their impact on policy and practices in smallholder farming development in Africa, with a focus on Ghana. Specifically, the chapter provides highlights of digital platforms available to smallholder farmers and agricultural extension agents, analyzes the public and/or private governance arrangements that underpin the implementation of digital climate information delivery, and assesses the potential of these platforms in scaling up the use of climate information. The chapter contributes to understanding the dynamics of climate information delivery with digital tools in Africa, and suggests a future research agenda.

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Best of both worlds : Co-producing climate services that integrate scientific and indigenous weather and seasonal climate forecast for water management and food production in Ghana

Abstract: acknowledge your amazing role in my PhD life my Marilyn Dede Nyadzi Attoh. Finally, but most importantly, I would like to express the depth of my love and gratitude to Anne Selasi Tofoatsi for her encouragement and continued support along this journey.

Cited by 5 publications

References 243 publications

Coproducing Weather Forecast Information with and for Smallholder Farmers in Ghana: Evaluation and Design Principles

Coproducing Weather Forecast Information with and for Smallholder Farmers in Ghana: Evaluation and Design Principles

Designing agrometeorological information services in Ghana by combining local and scientific forecasting knowledge

Digital Platforms in Climate Information Service Delivery for Farming in Ghana

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