Planning and Review Days on Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA) Implementation in Dodoma and Arusha, Tanzania

Abstract

Since 2014, World Food Programme (WFP), CGIAR Research Program Climate Change
Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) and
University of Reading (UoR) have been hosting trainings of intermediaries and sharing climate
information services. In Tanzania the trainings and climate related services have been offered
to the three Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) pilot districts Kiteto, Longido
and Kondoa, targeting the districts extension workers. These trainings and workshops aimed to
equip stakeholders, particularly the intermediaries or extension workers, with the capacity to
provide farmers with locally relevant climate, crop and livelihood information. As a part of
follow up and monitoring, WFP, CCAFS and other partners on GFCS organized a three-day
Planning and Review meetings in Dodoma (for Kiteto and Kondoa) and Arusha (for Longido)
in November 2015. The purpose of this meeting was to assess the implementation plans since
the first training of intermediaries that took place in 2014-2015.
Plenary feedback from group works in Longido, Kondoa and Kitoto districts showed that
trainings on Resource Allocation Maps (RAM), seasonal calendar, crop/livestock/livelihood
options, participatory budget, and historical climate information, calculating probabilities and
risks and seasonal forecast topics were successful, with farmers and pastoralists finding the
topics relevant and useful. However, some logistical, cultural, linguistic challenges remain in
training pastoralists and farmers, who need time to familiarize and understand the
Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA) approach that is very new
to their community.
Working groups concluded that although there were some challenges in implementing PICSA,
about 935 farmers have been trained in Kondoa district, 1572 in Kiteto district, and 1453 in
Longido district. Farmers have begun to make changes to their farming practices and share the
information in village meetings and Ward Development Community meetings after receiving
PICSA trainings.