MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
2012
groups to focus on a La Nina year and the other groups to focus on an El Nino year.
Go round between groups to answer questions and clarify what they are asked to do
and why.
After the 45 minutes choose some good examples and ask the groups who did them
to present and explain them.
Ask participants to share with the class and discuss how they could be used with
farmers.
A USEFUL METHOD
Point out that Crop Calendars can also be turned into budgets by farmers. The
farmers can put in a row below the activities and indicate what resources and how
much are used in each time period (column). For example, two 10 kg bags of basal
fertiliser in December cost $70 i.e. each costing $35. In the next row the farmer can
indicate what is harvested. Again showing how much e.g. 5 bags and when. The
budget therefore shows the inputs and outputs and their timing. This can be useful for
farmers looking back at a recent season, or planning ahead, or deciding which crop to
grow and how.
A Training Manual on Use of Climate Information and Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment for
Agricultural Extension Staff in Zimbabwe
Page 91