Abstract
Seasonal weather forecasts and drought hazard prediction through media sources and indigenous knowledge help provide an understanding of early warning systems and the preferred source information by rural households. This article focuses on the investigation of households’ access to weather forecasts and drought hazard prediction information as early warning to reduce drought risk on livelihood activities. The study was carried out in Chirumhanzu district, and the methods used for data collection included 217 household surveys, six focus group discussions, key informants’ interviews and document review. The study found that the majority of the households in the study area had access to seasonal weather forecast information (scientific), which almost half of the respondents received through radios. However, vulnerability to climate risks was exacerbated by seasonal weather forecasts, which were deemed by some households to be unreliable, inaccurate and not easily understood. In this regard, some households used indigenous knowledge to inform them on the status of the incoming rainy season and drought prediction. The use of indigenous knowledge depended on individuals’ ability to read and decode natural indicators of seasonal weather forecast and drought prediction. Indigenous knowledge is valuable for climate science as it enhances observations and interpretations on a larger spatial scale with considerable temporal depth by highlighting elements that are measured by climate science. Both scientific weather information and indigenous knowledge are important for seasonal weather forecasting and drought prediction, especially in rural settings, and complement each other if used and availed timely to households.
Highlights
The purpose of this article is to critically understand how households and communities access seasonal weather and drought prediction information as this shapes strategies for protecting their livelihood activities. These perceptions are moulded by the availability of and access to weather information through different sources of conventional and/or through understanding indigenous knowledge systems. An appreciation of these sources of seasonal weather forecasts and drought prediction, including conventional media sources and indigenous knowledge, helps provide an understanding of seasonal weather dynamics and early warning systems (EWS) for hazards like drought in the community and, more importantly, the source of weather information preferred by rural households
It is important to understand the role of access to seasonal weather forecasts and drought prediction information in helping households and smallholder farmers to make decisions regarding their livelihood activities
As only 3% owned television sets, others mentioned getting the information from religious meetings (2%), newspapers (1%) and EcoFarmer facility (1%), while 13% did not have access to seasonal weather forecasts and drought prediction (Figure 2)
Summary
The purpose of this article is to critically understand how households and communities access seasonal weather and drought prediction information as this shapes strategies for protecting their livelihood activities. Studies in Zimbabwe indicate that smallholder farmers are increasingly concerned about unfamiliar climate dynamics, including uncertainty about planting, loss of crops and damage to infrastructure (Chirau, Nkambule & Mupambwa 2014; Jiri et al 2016; Zvigadza, Mharadze & Ngena 2010). This is largely because the meteorological rainfall forecasts available through various channels are not readily accessible to rural communities (Chisadza et al 2013). Most communal areas in Zimbabwe rely much on natural rains such that accuracy in weather prediction results would improve farmers yield and productivity (Risiro et al 2012)
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