From accessing to assessing forecasts: an end-to-end study of participatory climate forecast dissemination in Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Abstract

This study compares responses to seasonal climate forecasts conducted by farmers of three agro-ecological zones of Burkina Faso, including some who had attended local level workshops and others who had not attended the workshops. While local inequalities and social tensions contributed to excluding some groups, about two-thirds of non-participants interviewed received the forecast from the participants or through various means deployed by the project. Interviews revealed that almost all those who received the forecasts by some mechanism (workshop or other) shared them with others. The data show that participants were more likely to understand the probabilistic aspect of the forecasts and their limitations, to use the 434 Climatic Change (2009) 92:433-460 information in making management decisions and by a wider range of responses. These differences are shown to be statistically significant. Farmers evaluated the forecasts as accurate and useful in terms of both material and non-material considerations. These findings support the hypothesis that participatory workshops can play a positive role in the provision of effective climate services to African rural producers. However, this role must be assessed in the context of local dynamics of power, which shape information flows and response options. Participation must also be understood beyond single events (such as workshops) and be grounded in sustained interaction and commitments among stakeholders. The conclusion of this study point to lessons learned and critical insights on the role of participation in climate-based decision support systems for rural African communities.

Indigenous climate knowledge in southern Uganda: the multiple components of a dynamic regional system

“…A number of features of indigenous knowledge, such as its social nature and the correspondence between some of its components and the sources of modern science, could help national meteorological services to develop new means of communication for their forecast products. The efforts of farmers to seek out climate information on their own and to discuss forecasts in groups deepen their understanding and broaden their use (Marx et al 2007;Roncoli et al 2008). The farmers are therefore capable of participating as agents as well as consumers in the broad social system of forecast development and use.…”

Farmers’ Perception and Willingness to Pay for Climate Information in Burkina Faso

“…Despite their importance, these endogenous forecasts are becoming less reliable because of climate change over the past two decades (Ingram, Roncoli, & Kirshen, 2002;Roncoli et al, 2008). The length of rainy season is varying, with the number of rainy days changing from one year to the other (Sultan & Janicot, 2003;Traore, Corbeels, Van-Wijk, Rufino, & Giller, 2013).…”

“…Seasonal rainfall amount, intra-seasonal rain-fall distribution and its onset and ending dates influence crop yields and determine the agricultural calendar (Marteau et al, 2011). Distortions in indicators transmission from one generation to the other question also the reliability of these forecasts (Roncoli et al, 2008).Therefore, farmers are looking for new strategies for seasonal climate forecasts to better plan seasonal crops production (Ingram et al, 2002).…”

Access to Risk Mitigating Weather Forecasts and Changes in Farming Operations in East and West Africa: Evidence from a Baseline Survey

“…Some research findings have indicated the usefulness of weather forecasts for reducing vulnerability of rain-fed agriculture to drought, flooding and extremely low or high temperature [22][23][24][25][26]. Initiatives to promote access of African farmers to weather forecasts include formation of several regional Climate Outlook Forums (COFs) in the late 1990s [27][28][29][30].…”