Integrating climate information into decision making for building resilience: A case study on farming communities in Bihar, India

Abstract

Effective utilization of available weather and climate information is important to develop efficient and sustainable agricultural production systems. National meteorological agencies supported by global and regional centers are trying to generate climate forecasts tailored to sector-specific operational applications for a wide range of potential users. However, the big challenge is to develop a mechanism that will effectively communicate the information in a language that could be easily understood at different levels to obtain the maximum benefits from the information they receive.The International Research and Applications Project (IRAP) was a research experiment aimed at improving the livelihoods of rural farmers in Bihar, India, by producing and providing them with tailored weather and climate information. Forecast Application for Risk Management in Agriculture (FARM) schools were conducted to improve the awareness of farmers about the need for climate information and climate adaptation interventions which was applied for Kharif crops in summer monsoon 2018. A communication mechanism was established with the support of local partners to disseminate the tailored forecast and advisories to farmers. Assessment results revealed that the climate information is strongly valued by farmers if provided through a mechanism that they trust. More vulnerable farmers have limited access and ability to use the information, thus capacity building efforts like FARM schools are immensely helpful. Farmers recognize the critical role of climate variability in determining livelihood outcomes and actively seek out information to manage variability. This intervention helped trained farmers to better adjust their farming decisions through enhanced uptake of weather and climate information.