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Mitigating Climate Stress:  Strengthening The ‘End-To-End’ System In South Africa

2002-2003 Annual Report (pdf)

HDGCR Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Emma Archer, Climate Systems Analysis Group, Dept of Environmental & Geographical Science

Time Period

2003

In Sub-Saharan Africa, women account for 70-80% of rural household food production (IFPRI 2000).  The benefits of early warning and seasonal climate forecasts in mitigating the effects of climate extremes may, however, be slow to accrue to such a significant group of end-users.  A case study in Limpopo Province, South Africa, identifies unique preferences and requirements in the application of seasonal forecasts amongst women in developing agriculture.  Significant findings to date include limits on the use of radio as a medium of climate information dissemination, and constraints on the ability to make key agricultural decisions even with forecast information.  If such requirements are not accommodated in the climate information system, the group may be excluded from its benefits.  The findings are currently being refined and prepared for feedback to forecast producers.  This end-user focused study is extended by an emphasis for the 02/03 season on strengthening the ‘end-to-end’ climate information system for South Africa as a whole.  Such broader scale work is undertaken in partnership with major stakeholders in the system such as the South African Weather Service and the Agricultural Research Council.  Strategies underway include capacity-building for key intermediaries in the climate information system, and design of a protocol for the integration of ‘indigenous’ climate forecasting knowledge.