Access to Agro-Climatic information: An important component of climate change adaptation projects.

Climate change is significantly impacting agricultural systems on a global scale. Even if local communities and producers have developed farming practices over time that take into account the risks of climate variability from one year to the next. The acceleration of climate change today poses a major concern for adaptation for agricultural systems. Unpredictable variations in weather conditions, extreme climate events and long-term changes in climate patterns have significant consequences on agricultural production, food security and farmers' livelihoods.

In this context of accelerated climate change, agro-climatic information is proving to be an essential tool to help agricultural communities anticipate, mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. It encompasses a range of weather, climate and agronomic data specifically tailored to the needs of local farmers. This information includes short- and long-term weather forecasts, data on precipitation, temperature, soil moisture, and other climate parameters.

Access to this information allows for more strategic agricultural planning and appropriate risk management. Farmers can adjust their sowing and planting and harvest schedules based on weather forecasts. Agro-climatic information also helps identify crops best adapted to changing local conditions, thereby promoting more resilient agricultural diversification.

The use of modern technologies, such as mobile applications and online platforms, facilitates access to agro-climatic information, even in the most remote regions. This promotes rapid and efficient dissemination of relevant data to farmers, providing them with the ability to make real-time decisions. Access to weather data also contributes to the development of risk mitigation strategies. Farmers can better prepare for extreme weather events by implementing adaptive agricultural practices. Many climate change adaptation projects implemented by NGDOs include a component of access to climate information. Here is an example of a Care project in Laos for which this component has a central place: The “Agro-Climate Information for the Adoption of Resilient Farming Practices by Women and Ethnic Minority Farmers” project is implemented by CARE in Laos. The project, funded by the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Biodiversity in Luxembourg, is designed to support poor and vulnerable households in isolated rural areas and to enable women and ethnic minority farmers in the districts of May and Samphanh (Phongsaly province) to better anticipate the risks and opportunities linked to climate variability and thus improve their response through participatory and equitable agro-climatic planning. The aim of the project is to contribute to SDG 13 by increasing the climate resilience of women and ethnic minority farmers in northern Laos. Here is a video presentation of the project: