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Zoning and mapping

as agrometeorological servicesin developing countries:

preconditions and requirementsin a checklist for action

C.J. Stigter, Agromet Vision, Bruchem, NetherlandsNawal K.N. Al-amin, Sudan University of Science

and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan

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We consider belonging to

agrometeorological services:

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All agrometeorological & agro-climatological knowledge and

information that can be directly that can be directly appliedapplied to try to improve and/or

protect the livelihood of farmersthe livelihood of farmers.

So yield quantity & quality and So yield quantity & quality and incomeincome, while safeguarding

the agricultural resource base from degradation. 3

From the beginning we considered as good example

of such agrometeorological services:

the products of agroclimatological the products of agroclimatological characterization, obtained withcharacterization, obtained with

whatever methodologies.whatever methodologies.

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Agroclimatic zoning (characterization)is most simply seen

as the division of an area according to the favourablity

for agriculture.

The separation of taxonomic agroclimatic units (belts, zones, districts, regions) which differ

in climatic resources.

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Characterization methods (in seven areas, following Bishnoi)

general agricultural suitability choice of crops, varieties, growing seasons soil-climatic zones for cropping (systems) flexible crop planning, covering risks improvement in crop productivity assessment of potential productivity exploitation of agroclimatic resources for specific

purposes

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GISs successfully focus primarily on capturing, storing, displaying

“natural capital”but much more recently also depict

socio-economic indexes and variablesScales and details of the datasets

are generally not adequate at farm level.They can support advisory services

and contribute to setting the agricultural research agenda

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Mapping activities with increasing complexities

Basic research support for mapping Mapping to support basic policy and design decisions

for applied research and development More complex mapping to support decision

preparations of government institutions and/or well to do farmers

More complex mapping to serve poorer farmers and/or related NGOs

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Basic research to support mapping

<> Map language (Anji Reddy)<> Tree crown projections (TTMI-Project, Tanzania)<> Radiation measurements in all evaporation

calculations: instrument comparisons, data quality checking, data consistency investigations (DAP-Project, Tanzania)

<> Example of areal cloudiness: Campbell Stokes and satellite data, sample frequency of twice a dayConclusion: it is possible in developing countries to do research that contributes to better mapping

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Just the ordinary service of research to research, science to science.

It implies for agromet servicesPrecondition:

@ best level trustable science

Requirements:@ best operational use of basic data

@ appropriate basic quality education(in agrometeorology)

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Mapping to support basic policy and design decisions

for applied research and development

<> Ordinary cases (TTMI, Sudan, Kenya, Nigeria):# soil moisture sampling in cracking clay# wind mapping in a hedged agroforestry system# sand mapping (shelterbelt, around single trees)# root mapping in multiple cropping

Conclusion: it is possible in developing countries to use ordinary mapping fruitfully in design research

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Just the service of mapping to applied research and design studies.

It implies for agromet servicesPrecondition (additional):

@ knowing regional details of the research questions encountered

Requirements (additional):@ best use of relevant basic operational

research results obtained elsewhere@ relevant basic policy decisionsunderlying the research requests

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More complex mapping to support decision preparations of government institutions and/or well to do farmers<> general examples but their use as such in the gray literature (example of Baradas in Malaysia)<> China as exception of using disaster mapping in

books (CAMS Annual Report); UN<> 20 volumes Agricultural & Forest Meteorology (5 examples, 1.5 %, only 2 from developing countries)<> 6 volumes (24 issues) WMO Bulletin (1999, 2000, 2001: basically nothing; 2002: little increase, 2003: real change in the making; 2004: very much).

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Conclusion: supportive mapping is in applications, but generally not supporting decisions

<> specific examples (Israel: Lomas et al.; Portugal: Stigter jr.; Sudan: this paper)<> decision makers can conclude from the interpretation of pictures, in the case of Sudan supported by groundtruth, where and how protective measures should be designed.

The above means that already earlier derived tough The above means that already earlier derived tough preconditions demand additional prioritization and preconditions demand additional prioritization and additional scientific choices for the applied research additional scientific choices for the applied research

necessary to develop priority services.necessary to develop priority services.

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SI Vulnerability mapSI Vulnerability map Campina de Faro Campina da Luz

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Atlantic

Ocean

FAR O

Patacão

N

K m E

Km

N

[U TM 29N ] Km E

Km

N

4097

4098

4099

4100

4101

4102

4103

4104

4097

4098

4099

4100

4101

4102

4103

4104

594 595 596 597

594 595 596 597

Santo Estêvão

Luz de Tavira

N

Atlantic

Ocean

[ U TM 29N ] Km E

KmN

613 614 615 616 617

4104

4105

4106

4107

4108

4109

4110

4104

4108

4109

4105

4106

4107

4110

613 614 615 616 617

-1,0

-0,5

0,0

0,5

1,0

G W Q I:

LEGENDR oad

W ater course

R ailw ay

H ighway (IP 1)

Data poin t usedfor in terpo la tion

Atlantic O cean (w ithR ia Form osa lagoon)

GW

QI

Low

qua

lity

Hig

h qu

ality

High qual.

Low qual.

Not potabl.

Groundwater quality mapsGroundwater quality maps(Based on NO3

-, Cl-, SO42-, Ca2+ and indirectly pH, NO2

- and PO43-)

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Map B

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Map D

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It implies for agromet services

Preconditions (additional): @ appropriate problem selection,

together with decision makers for whom agrometeorological services

have to be developed

@ appropriate knowledge selection, to develop the required applied research

focused on services

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Requirement (additional):

@ to determine appropriate policy environments for action on agrometeorological services,

what can be done within the present policy environment (preparedness), and what policies may be necessary

in the future for the agrometeorological services

to be applied

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More complex mapping to serve poorer farmers and/or related NGOs

<> CGIAR decision on connecting their GISs on agricultural environments in developing countries:agroecological studies excluding socio-economic data; ten years later: “sustainability” concept at UNCED<> no old literature examples<> CAgM report on communication of agromet info (Isabirye, in line with Murthy and Stigter; internet ??)<> Carvajal, private communication to Rossi<> INSAM contest on best examples of

agrometeorological services

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“Climatic Type” by Thornthwaite Highly Humid

(Tropical rain forest)

Humid (Tropical monsoon)

Sub humid (Tropical grassland)

Arid Temperate

humid Temperate dry Humid high

barren plain

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34

5

67

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It implies for agromet services

Precondition (additional):

@ knowing poor farmers’ needs the way they see them

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Requirement (additional):@ liaisons with farmers, related NGOs

and other related decision makers on what they did

(traditional preparedness, coping and adaptation strategies),

what they can do and what they want to do within the policy environment for

agrometeorological services (disaster preparedness and mitigation;

land use improvement)

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It can be confirmed from these lastly added precondition and requirement that

with respect to the livelihood of poorer farmers, bridging the gap between agrometeorological bridging the gap between agrometeorological

advisory products and such farmers advisory products and such farmers remains the main task of agrometeorologists remains the main task of agrometeorologists

for the nearest possible futurefor the nearest possible future

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This confirms conclusions from a CAgM Management Group meeting in Brazil.

We felt that applied researchers need helpin bridging the gap.

Therefore I also pleaded for training of Therefore I also pleaded for training of agrometeorological intermediaries agrometeorological intermediaries

in extension for and training ofin extension for and training offarmers as decision makers.farmers as decision makers.

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The same preconditions and requirements apply to other agrometeorological services

for poorer and formally less educated farmers

The sequence in each list is now The sequence in each list is now that of a checklist for actionthat of a checklist for action

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It is these days recognized that sustainable land management

is predominantly a conflict resolution issue

among the major stakeholders

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Summary of preconditions knowing poor farmers’ needs the way they see them

appropriate problem selection, together with decision makers for whom agrometeorological services have to be developed

knowing regional details of the research questions encountered

appropriate knowledge selection, to develop the required applied research focused on services

best level trustable science

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Summary of requirements liaisons with farmers, related NGOs and other related

decision makers on what they did (traditional prepared-ness, coping and adaptation strategies), what they can do and what they want to do within the policy environ-ment for agrometeorological services (disaster preparedness and mitigation; land use improvement)

to determine appropriate policy environments for action on agrometeorological services, what can be done within the present policy environment (preparedness), and what policies may be necessary in the future for the agrometeorological services to be applied

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Summary of requirements (cont.)

relevant basic policy decisions underlying the research requests

best use of relevant basic operational research results obtained elsewhere

best operational use of basic data

appropriate basic quality education (in agrometeorology)