Local advisory platforms bridging climate science and farmer decision making

Local advisory platforms bridging climate science and farmer decision making

ECREA partners in East Africa help convert climate forecasts into farm advisories so farmers can plan better amid weather variability.

Across East Africa, climate variability is increasingly disrupting agricultural production. Farmers are experiencing delayed rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and unpredictable seasonal patterns that make traditional planting calendars unreliable. While national meteorological services regularly produce seasonal forecasts, these forecasts have historically been difficult for farmers and extension officers to interpret for practical agricultural decision-making. For many farming communities, climate information existed but was not easily usable.

The Enhancing Climate Change Resilience in East Africa (ECREA) project was designed to address this disconnect by strengthening the systems that translate climate information into practical agricultural guidance. Implemented by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in collaboration with national partners across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda, the project works closely with national meteorological agencies, agricultural research institutions, and government extension systems responsible for delivering advisory services.

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