Importance of weather forecasts and meteorological information in adaptation to climate change in agricultural production : some preliminary findings

Many studies have increasingly emphasized adaptation to climate change in agricultural production. Most of them have recognized that agronomic strategies such as shifting agricultural calendar, changing crop varieties and types, crop diversification, income diversification and improving irrigation infrastructure are the commonly used adaptive strategies to climate change. What these strategies have missed, however, is the critical role of meteorological information for farmers in coping with climate variability and change. This paper provides a synthesis of the issues raised in the literature related to the major role and importance of weather forecast and meteorological information in coping with climate change. A number of these issues were related to improving weather forecast and providing meteorological service as adaptive strategies to climate change. The findings of these studies on improving quality of weather forecast and meteorological information has shown that the strategies have been very beneficial for different stakeholders who are constantly facing risks and uncertainties from natural disasters. For decision makers, the benefits from using this information include improved risk management practices and better-targeted policies. For farmers, the use of such accurate meteorological information can result in higher output, productivity and income or lower avoided cost or losses. However, there are constraints and challenges in applying meteorological information in coping with climate change. The most challenging issue on how to ensure the accuracy of weather forecasts. A number of recommendations were proposed to ensure a more efficient and beneficial use of weather forecast and meteorological information in coping with climate change in agricultural production. These include: (1)enabling different institutions and stakeholders involved in weather forecast to ensure the accuracy of forecast results, (2) developing integrated research framework in using meteorological information, (3) strengthening and enriching farmer's meteorological knowledge, and (4) providing user-oriented features to increase the economic benefits of meteorological information to the public.