Managing Climatic Risks for Enhanced Food Security: Key Information Capabilities

Balaghi, Riad; Badjeck, Marie‐Caroline; Bakari, D.; Pauw, Eddy De; Wit, Allard de; Defourny, Pierre; Donato, Sérgio Luíz Rodrigues; Gommes, René; Jlibene, M.; Ravelo, Andrés C.; Sivakumar, M. V. K.; Telahigue, N.; Tychon, Bernard

doi:10.1016/j.proenv.2010.09.020

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Many practices like the use of irrigation, improved cultivation and improved crop varieties have been developed over the years to adapt agriculture to climate variability and climate change, but agricultural productivity can be further increased, costs of production reduced and crop failures minimized through informed use of weather/climate information (Basco, undated). Dissemination of this information is of paramount importance for food security (Balaghi et al, 2010). No matter how good the product is, it may be ineffective if it is not passed on to the users in an appropriate way.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Rainfall Forecasts as a Decision Guide for Small-scale Farming in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Moeletsi

Mellaart²,

Mpandeli³

et al. 2013

The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

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Purpose: New innovative ways of communicating agrometeorological information are needed to help farmers, especially subsistence/small-scale farmers, to cope with the high climate variability experienced in most parts of southern Africa. Design/methodology/approach: The article introduces an early warning system for farmers. It utilizes short messaging system (SMS) to convey weather information and basic agronomic advice to 12 small-scale farmers in Makhado Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa. This case study demonstrates the usefulness of incorporating weather information on day-to-day farm management activities. Coded rainfall forecasts for light (0Á5mm), medium (5Á20mm) and heavy rainfall (20mm) were distributed three times a week to individual farmers and extension officers. Accompanying the forecasts were possible agricultural activities for the week. Findings: Extensive training of the farmers and extension officers is a pre-requisite for full comprehension of the coded SMS early warning system. The recommendations on farming conditions are not always adhered to due to farmers' indigenous knowledge and other factors like access to labour. Practical implications: Weather and climate information distributed to farmers has the potential to add value to the farming methods employed, hence positively impacting on rural food security. Originality/value: The article demonstrates that agrometeorological information must be packaged in such a way as to assist farmers and should be disseminated timeously and appropriately to maximize its utility or adoption.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Rainfall Forecasts as a Decision Guide for Small-scale Farming in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Moeletsi

Mellaart²,

Mpandeli³

et al. 2013

The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension

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“…To this end, we suggest a different or complementary model to supply smallholders with information is necessary, whereby smallholders can harness AGI to make better-informed and cost-saving decisions [27]. Using ICTs to communicate with farmers directly offers a potential for AGI to enhance sustainable agriculture [28], particularly through resources provision for increasing climate resilience at multiple landscape scales [29]. For example, access to geographic information regarding which drought-resistant crops to plant, including when and how, may increase smallholders' capacities to prepare for and withstand such long term climate stresses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographic Information and Communication Technologies for Supporting Smallholder Agriculture and Climate Resilience

Haworth

Biggs

Duncan

et al. 2018

Climate

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Multiple factors constrain smallholder agriculture and farmers’ adaptive capacities under changing climates, including access to information to support context appropriate farm decision-making. Current approaches to geographic information dissemination to smallholders, such as the rural extension model, are limited, yet advancements in internet and communication technologies (ICTs) could help augment these processes through the provision of agricultural geographic information (AGI) directly to farmers. We analysed recent ICT initiatives for communicating climate and agriculture-related information to smallholders for improved livelihoods and climate change adaptation. Through the critical analysis of initiatives, we identified opportunities for the success of future AGI developments. We systematically examined 27 AGI initiatives reported in academic and grey literature (e.g., organisational databases). Important factors identified for the success of initiatives include affordability, language(s), community partnerships, user collaboration, high quality and locally-relevant information through low-tech platforms, organisational trust, clear business models, and adaptability. We propose initiatives should be better-targeted to deliver AGI to regions in most need of climate adaptation assistance, including SE Asia, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. Further assessment of the most effective technological approaches is needed. Initiatives should be independently assessed for evaluation of their uptake and success, and local communities should be better-incorporated into the development of AGI initiatives.

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“…A set of irrigated areas in the country was equipped with the means to improve and secure crop production. Despite the large amounts of irrigation water consumed, wheat yields in irrigated areas remain low and fluctuate from one season to another due to fluctuating water availability and non-optimal management practices (Balaghi et al 2010). In the current context of climate change, water scarcity, and population growth, managing irrigation water has become a critical issue.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring surface water content using visible and short-wave infrared SPOT-5 data of wheat plots in irrigated semi-arid regions

Benabdelouahab

Balaghi²,

Hadria³

et al. 2015

International Journal of Remote Sensing

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Irrigated agriculture is an important strategic sector in arid and semi-arid regions. Given the large spatial coverage of irrigated areas, operational tools based on satellite remote sensing can contribute to their optimal management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of two spectral indices, calculated from SPOT-5 highresolution visible (HRV) data, to retrieve the surface water content values (from bare soil to completely covered soil) over wheat fields and detect irrigation supplies in an irrigated area. These indices are the normalized difference water index (NDWI) and the moisture stress index (MSI), covering the main growth stages of wheat. These indices were compared to corresponding in situ measurements of soil moisture and vegetation water content in 30 wheat fields in an irrigated area of Morocco, during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 cropping seasons. NDWI and MSI were highly correlated with in situ measurements at both the beginning of the growing season (sowing) and at full vegetation cover (grain filling). From sowing to grain filling, the best correlation (R 2 = 0.86; p < 0.01) was found for the relationship between NDWI values and observed soil moisture values. These results were validated using a k-fold crossvalidation methodology; they indicated that NDWI can be used to estimate and map surface water content changes at the main crop growth stages (from sowing to grain filling). NDWI is an operative index for monitoring irrigation, such as detecting irrigation supplies and mitigating wheat water stress at field and regional levels in semi-arid areas.

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Managing Climatic Risks for Enhanced Food Security: Key Information Capabilities

Cited by 20 publications

References 28 publications

The Use of Rainfall Forecasts as a Decision Guide for Small-scale Farming in Limpopo Province, South Africa

The Use of Rainfall Forecasts as a Decision Guide for Small-scale Farming in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Geographic Information and Communication Technologies for Supporting Smallholder Agriculture and Climate Resilience

Monitoring surface water content using visible and short-wave infrared SPOT-5 data of wheat plots in irrigated semi-arid regions

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