climate smart approaches for agriculture
TRANSCRIPT
Climate Smart Products For Agriculture(The Jamaican context)
Glenroy Brown
Meteorologist / Climate Technical Officer
Jamaica Meteorological Service
TEL: 1876-929-3700
Developing Climate Service in Jamaica for the Agriculture sector
WHY would the Met Service want to develop climate service for the agriculture sector?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) considers small islands, like Jamaica, to be some of the most vulnerable to climate change.
Developing Climate Service in Jamaica for the Agriculture sector
This is because climate change will have disproportionately greater impacts on our societies, economies and ecosystems in ways that will increase our vulnerability.
Developing Climate Service in Jamaica for the Agriculture sector
Agriculture in Jamaica is particularly vulnerable to the impulses of climate variability and change, given its open field nature, high number of small holdings and high dependence on rainfall.
Developing Climate Service in Jamaica for the Agriculture sector
In recognition of this, a Working Group on Climate Services for Agriculture in Jamaica was formed in May 2013.
Developing Climate Service in Jamaica for the Agriculture sector
The group is co-chaired by the Meteorological Services and RADA and comprises of other members from the Ministry of Agriculture, Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), ACDI VOCA, as well as International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI).
Developing Climate Service in Jamaica for the Agriculture sector
The group has three clearly defined goals:I. Identify priority areas of need for climate services in
the agriculture sector;
II. Develop tools and services to address the needs
identified
III.Provide interactive training for key stakeholders in the
sector including, feedback mechanisms to assess
performance
Developing Climate Service in Jamaica for the Agriculture sector
1. We Built awareness of available weather products which
include:
Farmers bulletin disseminated to extension officers monthly
Web portals that allow persons to get 5-day weather forecast for
specific communities across the island
Text messages indicating severe weather conditions (drought or
flash flood alerts)
Training of extension officers (RADA, Banana Board, Coffee Industry
Board and researchers from Bodles), as well as post training review
Specific successes of the project to date:
2. Conducted assessment of the usefulness of monthly farmers’
bulletin through:
o Focus group discussions held with farmers and extension staff
o Stakeholder consultation (RADA, JMS, Commodity Boards, FAO,
Bodles Research Unit and CARDI)
o ACDI/VOCA in collaboration with RADA and JMS are conducting a
series of farmers’ forum to prepare them for possible severe
weather systems that could occur in the current and near future.
Specific successes of the project to date:
3. Development of our drought and precipitation monitoring and forecast tools
A forecast for rainfall for three months in advance.
A forecast for possible drought conditions on a station basis three and six
months in advance.
Specific successes of the project to date:
• Seasonal Rainfall and Temperature Outlook (Climate Predictability Tool)
StationJamaica
Below (B) % Normal (N) % Above (A) %
Rainfall35 31 34
Temperature 10 25 65
Developing Climate Service in Jamaica for the Agriculture sector
Developing Climate Service in Jamaica for the Agriculture sector
Seasonal Drought Forecast (SPI)
Developing Climate Service in Jamaica for the Agriculture sector
Real time Weather Forecast
Take Away Message
CLIMATE SERVICES
Thank You!
Glenroy Brown
Meteorologist / Climate Smart Technician
Jamaica Meteorological Service