Bridging the Gap Between Bridging the Gap Between Seasonal Climate Forecasts and Seasonal Climate Forecasts and Decisionmakers in AgricultureDecisionmakers in Agriculture

Dissemination ProgramDissemination Program

byby

Jennifer P.T. LigutonJennifer P.T. Liguton(ACIAR-PCARRD/PAGASA-PIDS-LSU/(ACIAR-PCARRD/PAGASA-PIDS-LSU/

SARDI-NSW DPI-USyd Project Team)SARDI-NSW DPI-USyd Project Team)

Presented during the Orientation Forum on Climate Presented during the Orientation Forum on Climate Concepts and Seasonal Climate Forecasts for Concepts and Seasonal Climate Forecasts for

Decisionmakers in Agriculture, December 1, 2005, Decisionmakers in Agriculture, December 1, 2005, Malaybalay, Bukidnon.Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

One of the key objectives of the project is to:One of the key objectives of the project is to:

- Develop and implement strategies to better Develop and implement strategies to better match forecasts with decisionmakers’ needsmatch forecasts with decisionmakers’ needs

This entails knowing and understanding:This entails knowing and understanding:

- How to present SCF information to How to present SCF information to farmers; andfarmers; and

- How to educate decisionmakers in the use How to educate decisionmakers in the use of SCF technologiesof SCF technologies

In developing the strategies, one must In developing the strategies, one must first be clear on –first be clear on –

What Information are to be What Information are to be disseminated?disseminated?

• Basic concepts about weather/climateBasic concepts about weather/climate various climate phenomena/eventsvarious climate phenomena/events

science of seasonal climate forecastsscience of seasonal climate forecasts

climate variability and risks/uncertainties climate variability and risks/uncertainties involvedinvolved

• Forecasts on rainfall probabilitiesForecasts on rainfall probabilities

• Findings of project’s case studies on both the Findings of project’s case studies on both the policy and farm levels especially on the decision policy and farm levels especially on the decision points identified and how, when and where the points identified and how, when and where the SCFs may be usefulSCFs may be useful

• Results of the valuation studies of SCFsResults of the valuation studies of SCFs

-- how they may be integrated in the risk how they may be integrated in the risk management decisions of the players in management decisions of the players in agriculture or those who make key decisions in agriculture or those who make key decisions in agriculture, both at the farm level and the policy agriculture, both at the farm level and the policy level.level.

Who are our target users and Who are our target users and beneficiaries?beneficiaries?

Basically, the ones making decisions in Basically, the ones making decisions in the and/or affecting the agriculture sector:the and/or affecting the agriculture sector:

• FarmersFarmers – at the farm level – at the farm level

• PolicymakersPolicymakers – at the national level and at the – at the national level and at the local level such as provincial and municipal local level such as provincial and municipal agriculturistsagriculturists

• Link sectorLink sector – e.g., extension workers, media, – e.g., extension workers, media, researchers, etc.researchers, etc.

The challenges involved:The challenges involved:

• ContentContent – What are the key messages to be – What are the key messages to be relayed?relayed?

• Manner of presentationManner of presentation – How do we present – How do we present them? What are the conceptual nuances that we them? What are the conceptual nuances that we have to consider and look for? In what format?have to consider and look for? In what format?

• Vehicles of disseminationVehicles of dissemination – How do we reach our – How do we reach our

intended users/beneficiaries?intended users/beneficiaries?

Vehicles of disseminationVehicles of dissemination – How do we reach our – How do we reach our intended users?intended users?

• IEC type of activitiesIEC type of activities – seminars, fora, lectures, – seminars, fora, lectures, handouts/publications which may be coursed thru handouts/publications which may be coursed thru various conduits such as those identified in the link various conduits such as those identified in the link sector:sector:

LGUs (who may be both intended users and LGUs (who may be both intended users and conduit/link)conduit/link)

NGOsNGOs

Researchers/research centers especially those working Researchers/research centers especially those working with farmers or farm groupswith farmers or farm groups

Media, especially local media (provincial radio-Media, especially local media (provincial radio-television stations, local newspapers and media groups), television stations, local newspapers and media groups), the PIA and possibly, the Dev Com Net, a group of the PIA and possibly, the Dev Com Net, a group of government information officersgovernment information officers

• Dialogues with various groups Dialogues with various groups (especially (especially relating to the case studies)relating to the case studies)

Farmers groupsFarmers groups Community leaders/associations/residentsCommunity leaders/associations/residents Leagues of barangays, municipalities and Leagues of barangays, municipalities and provincesprovinces

• MediaMedia (community broadcast system) (community broadcast system)

• InternetInternet

• Other outletsOther outlets (non-traditional venues like (non-traditional venues like church associations and councils)church associations and councils)

What have we done so far?What have we done so far?

• Various seminars and fora like:Various seminars and fora like:

Pulong Saliksikan at PIDS (with government Pulong Saliksikan at PIDS (with government technical and policy level representatives)technical and policy level representatives)

Seminar-Workshop at Leyte State University Seminar-Workshop at Leyte State University (with provincial and municipal agriculturists)(with provincial and municipal agriculturists)

Quarterly Climate Outlook Fora of PAGASA Quarterly Climate Outlook Fora of PAGASA (with various stakeholders)(with various stakeholders)

This Orientation Forum here in Bukidnon, one of This Orientation Forum here in Bukidnon, one of the project’s identified case study sitesthe project’s identified case study sites

• Project Launch Project Launch held on July 27, 2005 to introduce held on July 27, 2005 to introduce the project and solicit interest, support and the project and solicit interest, support and feedback from various stakeholdersfeedback from various stakeholders

• Handouts Handouts on basic concepts like the El Niño on basic concepts like the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon (for Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon (for media, LGUs, NGOs)media, LGUs, NGOs)

• Project newsletterProject newsletter – to provide synopsis on project – to provide synopsis on project updatesupdates

• Project websiteProject website – detailing the project description, – detailing the project description, objectives and progress of workobjectives and progress of work

[ URL is: [ URL is: http://dirp3.pids.gov.ph/ACIARhttp://dirp3.pids.gov.ph/ACIAR ] ]

-- Thank youThank you - -