THE FORECAST IS NOT ENOUGH: PUTTING FARMERS AT THE CENTRE OF CLIMATE INFORMATION
The Kenya Meteorological Service Authority's (KMSA) latest seasonal forecast offers cautious optimism for Kenya's agricultural sector. Despite projections of near-average to below-average rainfall in several regions between July and September, agricultural production is expected to remain stable following favourable rainfall received during the March–May season.
For policymakers, this may signal a relatively secure harvest. For farmers, however, the forecast highlights a more pressing issue: in an era of climate uncertainty, access to timely and actionable weather information may be just as important as access to seed, fertilizer, or irrigation.
As climate shocks become more frequent and severe, weather forecasts are increasingly becoming an essential agricultural input. Yet for many Kenyan farmers, particularly smallholders, the challenge is whether they can use them to make better farming decisions.
