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28 SCF Folio Climate information needs assessment for Cebu The specific types of climate-related information that the respondents during the Cebu workshop want to receive are predicted rainfall (12.5%), rainfall and temperature pattern (12.5%), onset and termination of wet and dry spells (12.5%), and seasonal climate forecast (25.0%) as shown in Table 1. The reasons of the participants on why they need the specific types of climate-related information include: for instruction and extension Table 1. Specific types of climate-related information that the participants want to receive services (12.5%), for decisionmaking (12.5%), for maintaining crops on large scale (12.5%), for recommending possible crops to be planted Item Predicted rainfall Rainfall and temperature pattern in Argao Onset and termination of wet and dry spells n 1 1 1 % 12.5 12.5 12.5 (12.5%), and for disseminating information and assisting clients in decisionmaking (12.5%). Table 2 presents the participants’ responses on the time and frequency of receipt of the information. Participants said that they want to receive the information during critical periods (12.5%), more than half No answer 3 37.5 said that they want to get them on quarterly (62.5%) basis, and some Seasonal climate forecast (SCF) 2 25.0 (25%) answered that it should be within 2–3 months before the usual Total 8 100.0 planting season. The channel through which the participants want to receive the Table 2. When and how often would the respondents want to receive the information information are through bulletins from weather station (25%), radio (20.8%), television (16.7%), extension workers (8.3%), print (8.3%), fax Item n % (8.3%), internet (e-mail) (8.3%), and pamphlets, manuals, etc. (4.2%). The results also show (Table 3) that it is with community leaders and community associations that the participants interact more regarding 2–3 months before usual planting season 2 25.0 During critical periods 1 12.5 community welfare issues (at 33.3% and 26.7%, respectively). Local Quarterly Total 5 8 62.5 100.0 government officials/representatives are next (20%), followed equally afterwards by the media and nongovernment organizations. Finally, more than half (62.5%) of the respondents said that they are both user and disseminator concerning the Table 3. Sector/group that the respondents normally interact/ dissemination of seasonal climate forecast (Table 4). discuss on issues affecting community welfare Item n % Local government officials/representatives 3 20.0 Community leaders 5 33.3 Media 1 6.7 NGOs/faith-based groups 1 6.7 Community associations 4 26.7 No answer 1 6.7 Total 15 100.0 Table 4. Role of respondents regarding dissemination of seasonal climate forecast Item n % User 3 37.5 Both user and disseminator 5 62.5 Total 8 100.0 profits resulting from better farm management decisions as they take advantage of the opportunity during good seasons and minimize losses during bad seasons. He also discussed the various tactical farm management applications of SCF to address climate variability such as crop choice, timing of cropping period or planting time, and levels of input use, among others. He likewise presented research findings that show how farmers found SCF to be valuable in better managing cropping systems. In particular, SCF was found to be valuable in deciding what crop/variety to plant during the growing season. The findings also indicated that farmers using SCF have realized higher incomes than those who are not. However, Predo stressed that farmers need to be conscious of when to apply and when to disregard the information provided by the SCF. In underscoring the need to disseminate SCF, Mr. Renelio J. Mabao, City Agricultural Officer of Toledo City, reported that to date, they only get weather forecasts through the radio and television, especially during bad weather. It is only when “there are forecasts on the occurrence of El Niño or El Niña from PAGASA that either
29 the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) or the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) calls for a meeting for precautionary measures,” Mr. Mabao said. Mr. Mabao said that they disseminate these forecasts that they get during their meetings with the farmers. Fisherfolks, meanwhile, depend on the daily weather forecasts from PAGASA on whether or not they will go fishing. “Thus, it would be better if there could be a way by which PAGASA could send us a copy of their SCFs in advance so as to improve the system of forecasting,” Magbao added. In a related focus group discussion (FGD) that the representatives from PAGASA, PIDS, and VSU had with corn farmers and their spouses at Brgy. Sangi, Toledo City (see photo below), Julieta Daclan, one of the farmerleaders of said barangay, explained that “there is no such thing as proper time for planting corn” in Barangay Sangi. The reason for this, she said, is that most of the farmers are totally dependent on their corn produce as their source of living. Thus, immediately after harvesting, land preparation follows and then, after 3–5 days, the planting starts, ensuring that the farmers will not all be harvesting at the same time. The farmer-leader explained that they harvest their corn after 72–73 days after planting during the dry season and after 75 days during the wet season. They harvest corn as young corn and seldom allow the corn to mature and be milled into grain. She also admitted that the climate change has affected their produce, thereby affecting their livelihood too. “If PAGASA can inform us ahead that there will be a drought for the coming three months, then we will plant the native variety of corn that could withstand drought,” she stressed. Responding to the call for a more proactive dissemination of the SCF, Ms. Jennifer Liguton, Director for Research Information at PIDS, discussed the need for a strategic dissemination of SCF involving PAGASA local offices, community organizations, the media, extension workers, and the academe. She emphasized that the SCFs will be more assured of reaching the various stakeholders, especially the farmers, if the dissemination of said information is devolved. For instance, forecasts from PAGASA’s central office will be sent to PAGASA’s local offices or to the Department of Agriculture, then passed on to the provincial and municipal agricultural offices. Extension workers will play a key role in the process as they pass on the information to farmers. The SCF dissemination will likewise be more effective if the information is presented and explained in simple and easyto-understand terms, and if the forecast is suitable to local application, specific to sites, and issued on timely basis. (SCF Project Updates, September 2008)
Page 1 and 2: SCF Folio A compilation of informat
Page 3 and 4: 3 Administration (PAGASA), the Phil
Page 5 and 6: 5 Learning the basics Dr. John Mull
Page 7 and 8: 7 The dry season is also subdivided
Page 9 and 10: 9 Tropical cyclone average tracks J
Page 11 and 12: 11 inevitably have impacts on the v
Page 13 and 14: 13 Reaching out and increasing awar
Page 15 and 16: 15 To ensure that the SCFs are rend
Page 17 and 18: Communicating through climate indic
Page 19 and 20: 19 Table 1. Awareness, usefulness,
Page 21 and 22: 21 Very often, this leads to extrem
Page 23 and 24: 23 agency, PAGASA, and sent out to
Page 25 and 26: 25 municipality. LGUs may send in t
Page 27: 27 SCF is popular in Bukidnon but..
Page 31 and 32: 31 Analysis and research/survey res
Page 33 and 34: 33 As the results in this initial s
Page 35 and 36: 35 Table 2. El Niño and La Niña e
Page 37 and 38: 37 average, and wet years were calc
Page 39 and 40: 39 local corn growers. In guiding f
Page 41 and 42: 41 dominated regions of northern Ne
Page 43 and 44: 43 The influence of ENSO on frost r
Page 45 and 46: 45 It is the timing of the latest f
Page 47 and 48: A model for valuing seasonal climat
Page 49 and 50: 49 And on rice crop... Nueva Ecija
Page 51 and 52: 51 Security against climate variabi
Page 53 and 54: 53 been dominating the Table 1. Bor
Page 55 and 56: 55 The need to help rice and corn f
Page 57 and 58: 57 Figure 1. Rainfall outlook, July
Page 59 and 60: 59 In Cebu: use of SCF gives higher
Page 61 and 62: 61 units of N fertilizer based on g
Page 63 and 64: 63 Determining corn farmers’ deci
Page 65 and 66: 65 Table 2. Farmers’ responses to
Page 67 and 68: 67 Project Team Australia Dr. Peter

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