MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
SECTION 6.0
Current and future likely impacts of weather events on
agriculture in Zimbabwe: Results from analysis of
climate data for Bulawayo, Makoholi, Gokwe and
Beitbridge
Introduction
It is important to know the characteristics of the growing season in your area so
that you are able to give relevant and climate smart extension advice to farmers.
To give appropriate advice there is need to know:
a) When the season is likely to start
b) When the season is likely to end
c) The probability of having a certain season length
d) What quantities of rain will fall, with what probability
e) The probability of dry spells occurring and the length of the dry spells.
However it is difficult to predict with precision the quality of the season ahead,
but we can make predictions based on long time historical climatic data. Luckily
in Zimbabwe we have rainfall data recordings for some areas dating back more
than 30 years. The analysis presented here for some stations was done using
such data.
It is important for extension staff to know that knowing climate information alone
is not enough, we also need to know basic agronomy of crops grown in our
areas to give appropriate advice for example, what is the average rainfall
requirement for most crops grown in our areas, what is the average growing
period for the varieties we are advising farmers to grow compared to the area
season length
This session will discuss in some of the climatic events mentioned above and
also give example of analysed data for selected stations.
A Training Manual on Use of Climate Information and Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment for
Agricultural Extension Staff in Zimbabwe
Page 41