Paper short abstract:

Working with climate scientists, social scientists and agricultural practitioners, the PICSA approach uses participatory tools to jointly analyse historical climate information with smallholder farmers and to identify crop, livestock and livelihood options that are best suited to their local climate.

Paper long abstract:

Smallholder farmers are key to food security in sub-Saharan Africa where two thirds of the population depends on small-scale farming as their main source of food and income. Critical farming and household decisions depend upon how much rain falls, when the season starts, the length of the season and the likelihood and timing of dry spells; all of which vary considerably from year to year.

The Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA) approach involves agricultural extension staff working with groups of farmers ahead of the agricultural season to firstly analyse historical climate information and use participatory tools to develop and choose crop, livestock and livelihood options best suited to individual farmers' circumstances and the local climate. Farmers also use participatory tools to plan the implementation of options that they have selected for the next season. Then soon before and during the season, extension staff and farmers consider the practical implications of seasonal and short-term forecasts on the plans farmers have made.

The approach brings together climate scientists from National Meteorological Services, social scientists and agricultural practitioners to develop participatory tools that are useful and usable for smallholder farmers in their planning and decision making. PICSA is currently being scaled out in Ghana, Tanzania and Malawi and this paper will outline some of the initial results from monitoring and evaluation of work with more than 5000 farmers in 10 districts in the north of Ghana.