Training: Climate Information Services for Ag Experts in East and Southern Africa
WHERE Gaborone, Botswana
The South-South knowledge exchange and capacity-building initiative organized by regional partners, including the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), and IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Center (ICPAC), aims to empower agricultural experts in Eastern and Southern Africa to utilize climate information services and establish robust early warning systems and enhance preparedness and response capabilities.
Agriculture in Southern and Eastern Africa relies mainly on rain and is highly vulnerable to climate variability and change. These changes are expected to worsen droughts, floods, and extreme weather events in these regions, posing significant threats to food security. Enhancing the capacity of agricultural experts to understand and address these threats is crucial to ensuring sustainable agricultural development.
The training workshop hosted in Gaborone focuses on the following key areas.
- The Climate Basics Training is designed to provide agricultural experts with the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the complex and rapidly evolving field of climate science.
- Climate information services are crucial for making well-informed decisions in agriculture. These services offer valuable data on weather patterns, seasonal forecasts, and climate trends, which can help guide agricultural practices.
- Effective early warning systems are essential for reducing the impact of climate-related disasters in Southern and Eastern Africa. However, many regions in these areas lack the necessary systems and expertise.
- Disaster risk management involves identifying, assessing, and prioritizing climate risks, followed by coordinated efforts to minimize their impact. This involves implementing practices that reduce vulnerability and increase resilience to climate impacts in agriculture.
- Addressing the long-term impacts of climate change and gender considerations is crucial. Agricultural experts are essential in developing and implementing strategies to cope with these impacts by creating climate-resilient crops, optimizing water use, and promoting sustainable land management practices.
Trainees come from all CCARDESA and ASARECA member states.
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