ARCHIVES
VOL. 7, ISSUE 3 (2025)
The use of Agro-Meteorology and climate information as drought coping strategies
Authors
Nesamvuni AE, Ndwambi KA, Tshikolomo KA, Mavhungu TJ, Mpandeli NS
Abstract
Grazing is an essential exercise for
smallholder livestock farmers, as it provides the feed needed to raise healthy
and productive livestock. Subsequently, the purpose of this study was to
appraise the importance of agro-meteorology and climate information as drought
coping strategies. The use of agro-meteorology and climate information bears
the potential to prepare and mitigate the impact of climate change on
smallholder farmers. There is a diverse array of climatic information available
in the public domain (rainfall, temperature, aridity, and projected climate).
Such information was subjected to the geographical information system to
establish the spatial variability of such parameters. The continuous monitoring
data was subjected to the climate and earth system models to project the future
climate. The subsequent thematic layers revealed that there is spatial variability
of the rainfall in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. The eastern side
experiences the optimal rainfall of about 1800 mmpa and decreases moving
westward to the value of about 300 mmpa. The temperatures exhibit a similar
trend. The projected rainfall revealed that there will be an increased rainfall
intensity in the study area for the most part, meanwhile the temperature will
also be increasing. The smallholder livestock farmers may adopt the climate
information to plan their annual operations. The climate forecasts guide the
farmers to establish a timeline directing which activities need to be executed
at what time depending on water needs. Nonetheless, climate change has a
significant impact on rangelands. Ultimately this negatively affects the
quality and the quantity of the feeds. As global temperatures rise, pastures
become drier and warmer, making it more difficult for plants to grow and
thrive. This can make it more difficult for pastures to adapt to changing
environmental conditions, further exacerbating the impact of climate change.
Download
Pages:42-53
How to cite this article:
Nesamvuni AE, Ndwambi KA, Tshikolomo KA, Mavhungu TJ, Mpandeli NS "The use of Agro-Meteorology and climate information as drought coping strategies". International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Vol 7, Issue 3, 2025, Pages 42-53
Download Author Certificate
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission to download your certificate.