Weather influences agriculture in a profound way. Despite technologicaladvances, ECA farmers are still dependent on seasonal rains which are highlyvariable in time and space. Certain extreme weather events such as droughts,storms, floods and frosts have severe effects on agricultural production. Theimpact of these events on the farmers’ livelihoods can be reduced if farmershave advance information about their probable occurrence. Thus, weatherforecasts are of great importance to agricultural activities. Rainfall, solarradiation, temperature and relative humidity are the most important elementsthat influence crop growth and yields. Weather conditions dictate time for landpreparation, sowing time, plant density, weeding time and frequency, incidenceof pests and diseases, etc. Monitoring of weather conditions and advanceweather information therefore have a huge influence on the day to day runningof agricultural operations.

The weather-based agro-advisory tool was developed to estimateproduction costs and returns on investment under variable climatic conditions.The costs estimated include all the inputs considered essential to grow a givencrop in most African countries. Since cultural practices, yields and pricesvary between locations and across years, the user is expected to collect andenter the necessary data as outlined in a worksheet named ‘Database’. Thespreadsheet is made as flexible as possible and can be adapted to each crop forpurposes of inputting the relevant parameters such as costs, yields, units andso forth. The tool allows for a comparative assessment of up to five differententerprises or management practices, from which the most profitable and leastrisky can be identified with full consideration to the long-term trends inproduction and associated costs, benefits and risks. The tool is made up ofthree worksheets which are linked to calculate and present the information in away that can assist decision makers in selecting an enterprise that matchestheir requirements and risk-taking ability. This tool is also useful forhighlighting the issue of risk during dialogue with stakeholders.

The innovative tool was developed using a participatory approachwhich entailed intense engagement of several smallholder farmers in Kenya’sArid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).

The tool enhances farmers’ potential to utilize climateinformation to improve farm resource management. In essence, it bridges atroubling information gap that leaves farmers decisions to be based onguesswork.  It should be well embraced byend-users and can be useful to all gender categories. Efforts need to be put inarticulating the tool’s gender sensitivity or inclusiveness and direct impactpotential. The tool is essential in the face of increasing climate variability,since farmers can utilize information therein to increase resilience to extremeweather events. It is recommended that farmers be trained to utilize climateinformation to improve farm resource management.

The tool can help farmers increase their on-farm production andprofitability, as it safeguards them from incurring potential costs. Itprovides a useful comparative assessment of different enterprises or managementpractices based on which is the most profitable and less risky enterprise ormanagement practice identified considering associated costs, benefits andrisks. The innovative tool is affordable since a diverse amount of vitalinformation can be accessed in the same portal.

The weather-based agro-advisory tool isgender-neutral. It can be used with ease by all gender categories, includingmen, women and the youth.

William G. Ndegwa;

County Director, Kenya Meteorological Services (KMS);

P O Box 30259-00100;

Nairobi, Kenya.

Tel: +254-722324161

Email: William_ngegwa@yahoo.com; ndegwa@meteo.go.ke

Kwena Kizito;

Scientist, Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organization-Katumani;

P. O. Box 340-90100;

Nairobi, Kenya.

Tel: +254-44-20495; +25420-2311449

Mob: +254726370808

Fax: +25420-2311449

Email: kwenakizito@yahoo.com; kwenakizito@gmail.com

K.P.C. Rao;

Principle Scientist, Resilient Dryland Systems; ICRISAT;

P. O. Box 5689;

ILRI, Addis-Ababa; Ethiopia.

Tel: 251-(11)617-20-00

Fax: (251-11)-64646-45

Email: k.p.rao@cgiar.org

Robinson Kinuthia Ngugi;

Senior Lecturer, University of Nairobi;

P. O. Box 29053-00625;

Tel: +254-20359274

The project, ‘Making the best of Climate: Adapting Agriculture toClimate Variability’ sought to test whether peasant farmers with limitededucation could utilize seasonal climate information to improve their farmresource management. The project has been developing best practices fordissemination and testing climate forecast information products that cansupport farm-level decision-making processes aimed at enhancing the farmers’capacity to adapt to any upcoming season. One of the products the project hasdeveloped and tested is a “Weather-based agro-advisory”. This is a bulletin oftechnical information developed by the project team in conjunction with thelocal agricultural extension officers, farmer group representatives and otherstakeholders. These weather based agro-advisories can be used to facilitateuptake of prophylactic plant protection measures, fertilizer application,irrigation scheduling, etc. They can also be used to facilitate up take ofappropriate measures for day to day field operations to minimize the risksinvolved in agricultural production.