CLIMATE NGO CALLS FOR ACCURATE INFORMATION ON RAINFALL PATTERN 

By NATION REPORTER

THE Media Network Action on Climate Change (MENACC) says government and other stakeholders should beef up dissemination of information on the rainfall patterns for the 2023/2024 farming season to equip to prepare farmers of climatic challenges.

The MENACC says the dissemination of information on rainfall patters should come at the backdrop of climate unpredictability and following warnings of possible below normal rainfall anticipated to affect Southern Africa this farming season.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recently issued alerts of the development of an El Nino climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean this year, which is anticipated to bring dangerously high temperatures and extreme weather events with an 80 per cent chance of an El Niño event developing between July and September and is expected to last for 12 months.

WMO has further indicated that the effects of El Nino climate pattern on global temperatures will likely be most apparent in 2024 with a warning that the world “should prepare” for more extreme weather and climate events, including severe rainfall and drought, depending on the region.

And now, MENACC executive coordinator Kennedy Phiri is concerned over the alert and that there is, therefore need to provide accurate and adequate information to not only farmers but citizens.

Mr Phiri said the country should not lose human lives, infrastructure, crops and domestic animals like cattle due to floods as the case was in the previous rain season especially in Southern Province primarily because of failure to put in place early warning systems and interventions.

Mr Phiri said in the face of climate change, timely distribution of inputs to farmers alone is not enough if not accompanied by the correct information regarding the rainfall partners each season.

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