An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Weather Information Dissemination among Farmers and Policy Makers

Julianne Sansa-Otim, Mary Nsabagwa, Andrew Mwesigwa, Becky Faith, Mojisola Owoseni, Olayinka Osuolale, Daudi Mboma, Ben Khemis, Peter Albino, Samuel Owusu Ansah, Maureen Abla Ahiataku, Victoria Owusu-Tawia, Yahaya Bashiru, Isaac Mugume, Roseline Akol, Nathern Kunya and Ronald Inguula Odongo
Additional contact information
Julianne Sansa-Otim: WIMEA-ICT Laboratory, Department of Networks, College of Computing and Information Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Mary Nsabagwa: WIMEA-ICT Laboratory, Department of Networks, College of Computing and Information Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Andrew Mwesigwa: WIMEA-ICT Laboratory, Department of Networks, College of Computing and Information Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Becky Faith: Digital and Technology Cluster, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RE, UK
Mojisola Owoseni: Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Lafia, PMB 146, Lafia 950101, Nigeria
Olayinka Osuolale: Department of Biological Sciences, Elizade University, PMB 002, Ilara-Mokin 340271, Nigeria
Daudi Mboma: India Tanzania Centre of Excellence in ICT (ITCoEICT), Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, Dar Es Salaam P.O. Box 2958, Tanzania
Ben Khemis: Department of Physics, College of Applied and Industrial Sciences, University of Juba, Juba P.O. Box 80, South Sudan
Peter Albino: Department of Physics, College of Applied and Industrial Sciences, University of Juba, Juba P.O. Box 80, South Sudan
Samuel Owusu Ansah: Climatological Unit, Department of Research and Applied Meteorology, Ghana Meteorological Agency, Accra P.O. Box LG 87, Ghana
Maureen Abla Ahiataku: Climatological Unit, Department of Research and Applied Meteorology, Ghana Meteorological Agency, Accra P.O. Box LG 87, Ghana
Victoria Owusu-Tawia: Climatological Unit, Department of Research and Applied Meteorology, Ghana Meteorological Agency, Accra P.O. Box LG 87, Ghana
Yahaya Bashiru: Marine and Numerical Weather Prediction Unit, Ghana Meteorological Agency, Accra P.O. Box LG 87, Ghana
Isaac Mugume: Directorate of Forecasting Services, Uganda National Meteorological Authority, Kampala P.O. Box 7025, Uganda
Roseline Akol: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Nathern Kunya: WIMEA-ICT Laboratory, Department of Networks, College of Computing and Information Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 7062, Uganda
Ronald Inguula Odongo: Directorate of Forecasting Services, Uganda National Meteorological Authority, Kampala P.O. Box 7025, Uganda

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: The changing environment, climate, and the increasing manifestation of disasters, has generated an increased demand for accurate and timely weather information. This information is provided by the National meteorological authorities (NMAs) through different dissemination channels e.g., using radios, Televisions, emails among others. The use of ICTs to provide weather information is recently gaining popularity. A study was conducted in three countries, namely Nigeria, Uganda, and South Sudan to assess the efficiency of an ICT tool, known as “Weather Information Dissemination System”. The study involved 254 participants (Uganda: 71; South Sudan: 133; and Nigeria: 50). The collected primary data were first quality controlled and organized thematically for detailed analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to provide quantitative analysis as well as content scrutinized for qualitative analysis. The results showed that there is a need for timely weather information to plan farming activities such as planting and application of fertilizers and pesticides as well as to manage flood and drought by the water sector and disaster management. Results further showed that the majority of the respondents have access to the technology needed to access weather and climate information. The respondents who received weather information from NMAs noted that the forecast was good. However, they further noted that there is more room for improvement especially with making the forecasts location-specific, ensuring mobile access is adequate in all regions, provision of weather information by SMS (in countries where this service is currently unavailable) and improved timing of the weather information. Finally, uncertainty about the accuracy of weather information and the weather information not meeting specific needs are key barriers to people’s willingness to pay for it (Uganda: 33.3%; South Sudan: 46.1%; and Nigeria: 33.3%). Improved collaborations between the NMAs, ICT service providers, policymakers and farmers will facilitate an effective approach to weather information access and dissemination. Innovative sensitization approaches through the media houses will enable better understanding of weather products and utilization, and access to enabling ICTs would increase access to weather forecasts

Keywords: weather information dissemination; weather information impact; mobile information access; weather information accuracy; location-specific information (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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