The selection of actual preparedness strategies for dealing with climate as adopted in monocropping

Abstract

Climate variability creates enormous problems with agricultural production and in natural resource management. Preparedness is needed. Climate forecast information could help farmers to stabilize yield through management of agroclimatic resources as well as other inputs (Gommes 1997). However, effectiveness of climate related preparations for enhanced agricultural production and protection can be improved through close collaboration among the relevant agencies and organizations, National Extension Services, National Agrometeorological Services and farming communities (Weiss et al. 2000). Although there may be other constraints before a forecast can be factored into decision-making, it is often these stakeholders that need additional information to offset risk as much as possible (Ziervogel and Downing 2004). Many farmers involved in participatory decision making processes have shown interest in using climate information and try to implement their own management practices. Farmers have built a strong knowledge base from practical experiences (Balasubramanian et al. 1998) gained over generations and this knowledge has to be valued for potential gain in farming. Stigter et al. (2005) stressed the use of traditional methods and indigenous technologies for coping with climate variability. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.