A team from the University of Reading, as part of  the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) research work is scaling out a novel approach to support smallholder farmers in several countries.

Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA) involves agriculture 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. 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 project works directly with National Meteorology Agencies, government extension agents and non-governmental organisations.

The project was first piloted in Zimbabwe and then in Tanzania and Kenya. It is now being scaled out in Ghana, as part of the CCAFS supported CASCAID project, Tanzania and Malawi via the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) project and Lesotho via International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).