From forecasts to action – What is needed to make seasonal forecasts useful for South African smallholder farmers?

Abstract

This paper explores the barriers that limit the use of SFs by smallholder farmers and policy-makers and practical, political and personal changes in the Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) that could enhance greater usage of SFs in risk management. Interviews and workshops were performed with LDARD staff at province, district municipality and service center level within the Extension and Advisory Services and Disaster Management Services divisions. Many extension officers repeatedly pointed out the need to move from reactive to proactive policies. This could entail creating effective channels for bottom-up communication of emerging ground conditions coupled with relief and support efforts distributed even during hazardous events, not only after greater losses have been felt. Different perceptions and understandings of if and how SFs inform national subsidies and site-specific recommendations distributed in the province to extension staff that departmental communication could be improved to increase trust and reliability of the forecasts and accompanying recommendations for farmers.