Oluwatoyin Dare Kolawole|Piotr Wolski|Barbara Ntombi Ngwenya|Gagoitseope Mmopelwa
Ethno-meteorology and scientific weather forecasting: Small farmers and scientists’ perspectives on climate variability in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
University of Botswana|University of Cape Town|University of Botswana|University of Botswana|University of Botswana
recent trends abrupt weather changes continue pose challenge agricultural production especially subsaharan africa paper specifically addresses questions local farmers read predict weather collaborate weather scientists devising adaptation strategies climate variability cv okavango delta botswana recent trends agriculturerelated weather variables available countrys climate services well freely available satellite rainfall products analysed utility seasonal hydrological forecasting system study area context supporting farmers information needs assessed multistage sampling procedure total 592 households heads 8 rural communities okavango delta selected interviewed using open closeended interview schedules also 19 scientists purposively selected interviewed using questionnaires key informant interviews focus group knowledge validation workshops used generate qualitative information farmers scientists descriptive inferential statistics used summarising data analysis satellite rainfall products indicated consistent increase total annual rainfall throughout region last 10 years accompanied increase number rain days reduction duration dry spells however progressive increase regions temperatures leading increase potential evaporation findings social surveys show farmers age education level number years engaged farming sources weather information knowledge weather forecasting decision farming practices either significant relationship correlation perceptions nature local ethnometeorological scientific weather knowledge nonetheless significant difference mean scores farmers relation perceptions climate scientists nature local western knowledge farmers adept judging seasonal patterns longstanding ethnometeorology one major cv adaptation measure ability anticipate changes future weather conditions enables adjust farming calendars make decisions crop type selection given season