Climate extremes in Southern Africa threaten rain-fed agriculture, necessitating farmer support. A digital advisory campaign using IVR technology reached over 1 million farmers in Malawi and Zambia, providing effective guidance during an El Niño event. The initiative yielded positive feedback, with significant adoption of drought-tolerant crops and conservation practices.
Southern Africa faces increasing climate extremes like droughts and floods, adversely impacting rain-fed agriculture and economies. Farmers require immediate support to enhance resilience against these climate-related disasters. However, national extension systems in the region are underfunded and lack sufficient capacity to respond to emergencies effectively.
This report examines a digital advisory campaign that aimed to raise awareness about El Niño events through Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology, accessible on basic mobile phones. Launched in December 2023, before the 2023/24 agricultural season, the initiative reached over 1 million farmers in Malawi and Zambia, gathering their feedback regarding the utility of the advisories.
Feedback indicated that over 90% of surveyed farmers found the digital messages beneficial for awareness and preparedness. Radio was identified as the preferred medium for receiving these extension messages. Additionally, meteorological forecasts were crucial, influencing farmers’ decisions on crop selection and planting dates, resulting in significant yield loss associated with prolonged dry spells.
Farmers adopted drought-resistant crops and conservation agriculture practices as mitigation strategies against climate impacts. The campaign’s findings underscore the necessity for governments to access accurate data to make informed decisions about extending support to vulnerable populations. Digital advisories also enable real-time data collection and the implementation of targeted assistance.
Post-event analysis provides evidence to improve future interventions and reduce dependence on donor funding. Implementing such digital advisory systems can strengthen the agricultural sector’s resilience to climate variability, supporting sustainable livelihoods for farmers in the region.
The report highlights the critical need for digital advisories in assisting farmers during climate extremes. The success of the El Niño advisory campaign not only demonstrated the effectiveness of real-time communication through IVR technology but also emphasized the importance of meteorological data in agricultural decision-making. Moving forward, enhancing governmental access to farmer data can bolster agricultural resilience and improve future response efforts.
Original Source: www.cgiar.org
