Empowering Farmers with Digital El Niño Advisories in Malawi and Zambia
This report examines a digital advisory campaign implemented in Malawi and Zambia during an El Niño event, utilizing IVR technology to reach over 1 million farmers. Findings reveal that over 90% of participants valued the advisories, which played a critical role in informing crop choices and planting dates. The campaign successfully demonstrated the value of digital tools in enhancing farmers’ resilience against climate-related challenges.
Climate extremes such as droughts, floods, and cyclones are increasingly affecting Southern Africa, significantly impacting communities reliant on rain-fed agriculture. Farmers require effective support to enhance resilience against these climate-related disasters, yet national extension systems are often underfunded and ill-equipped to address urgent challenges. This report investigates a digital advisory campaign targeting farmers during an El Niño event in Malawi and Zambia, utilizing Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology accessible via basic mobile phones, launched in December 2023, before the 2023/24 agricultural season.
The campaign successfully reached over 1 million farmers across both countries, with over 90% of respondents reporting the advisory messages as beneficial for awareness and preparedness. Notably, radio emerged as the preferred channel for disseminating extension messages. The study indicates that meteorological forecasts significantly influenced farmers’ crop selection and planting schedules, revealing that prolonged dry spells could result in maize yield reductions of 70-90%. Conservation agriculture and drought-resistant crops were perceived as the most effective strategies by farmers.
These findings underscore the necessity for governments to acquire pertinent information regarding their populations to make better-informed decisions for providing timely support. Digital advisories not only facilitate real-time data collection on agricultural conditions but also enable the timely provision of assistance. Furthermore, post-event evaluations yield critical insights that can improve the design of future response initiatives and lessen reliance on donor funding.
In summary, this report highlights the importance of digital advisory systems in empowering farmers in Malawi and Zambia to withstand climate extremes. The significant reach and positive feedback from the campaign illustrate the potential of technology in enhancing agricultural resilience. Governments must prioritize access to adequate information and support systems to maximize the effectiveness of future interventions.
Original Source: www.cgiar.org
