Assessing disparities in access, use, and potential benefits of weather and climate information services among farmers in Guatemala’s Dry Corridor

Abstract

Climate risk is a critical challenge for smallholder farmers in Guatemala, and weather and climate information services (WCIS) are a growing policy solution. Using a survey of 330 farming households in Guatemala’s Dry Corridor, this research examines farmers’ ability to access and utilize WCIS for agricultural decision-making, as well as the association between WCIS and food insecurity. Our observational study found that while reported access to one approach, Local Technical Agro-Climatic Committees (LTACs) and agro-climatic bulletins (ACBs), was lower than expected among a representative sample of communities, nearly half of respondents reported accessing weather and climate information more generally. In an observational comparison, those accessing information implemented significantly more climate-resilient agricultural practices and were significantly more food secure than those not receiving the information; however, accessing information was correlated with household wealth and education, and its effect on food insecurity was not statistically identifiable in a multiple regression test with controls. Our study also provides empirical evidence that a lack of information is not the primary barrier to the adoption of adaptation practices. While farmers expressed a desire to adapt certain farming practices in response to climate risk, they faced financial and other barriers to implementing these strategies. Thus, while WCIS have potential for informing agricultural decisions, this study underscores the challenges associated with effectively delivering information to farmers, as well as highlights obstacles to their use when farmers do receive them. These insights are crucial for refining WCIS design and delivery. Recommendations include investing in more farmer-centric communication channels and coupling information with resources to strengthen farmers’ adaptive capacity.

Practical implications

Guatemala’s Dry Corridor is a region highly susceptible to drought and climate variability. For smallholder farmers who depend on rain-fed maize and bean cultivation, these climate risks intensify vulnerability and threaten livelihoods. Acute food insecurity is also a significant concern in Guatemala and the Dry Corridor. Weather and climate information services (WCIS) are offered as a policy solution in Guatemala, and globally, to aid in climate risk management and climate change adaptation. Timely and relevant climate information can inform adaptive agricultural practices, potentially helping to mitigate climate risks, reduce negative coping strategies, and safeguard household well-being.

This study explores the reach of WCIS and the socioeconomic factors associated with its use among a population of smallholder farmers in Guatemala’s Dry Corridor, using a contextual assessment of decision-making processes, adaptive practices, and local constraints. We investigate the differences between those who access WCIS and those who do not, and assess whether access to WCIS and the implementation of adaptive agricultural practices is associated with greater household food security.

In particular, the study examines the role of Local Technical Agro-Climatic Committees (LTACs; known as Mesas Técnicas Agroclimáticas, or MTAs in Spanish) and agro-climatic bulletins (ACBs). The LTACs are a nationally scaled climate services initiative, backed by a governmental coordination strategy that engages numerous organizations and agricultural intermediaries. Through dialogue, knowledge exchange, and the development of participatory climate-informed recommendations for farmers, this initiative aims to improve the accessibility and tailoring of climate information to support climate resilience among farmers.

Our study finds that among randomly surveyed farming households, very few farmers are attending LTACs or directly accessing information/recommendations from the ACBs in this region. Instead, most farmers rely on personal observations, radio, and neighbors to identify climate risks; and radio, smartphones, and television to access weather and climate information. Decisions about planting, harvesting, crop varieties, inputs, and water management are most often informed by personal experience, family tradition, and advice from neighbors. Noteable, only 50 % of the sampled farmers report access to any weather or climate information. Those who do, primarily access short-term weather forecasts (1–5 days) rather than seasonal climate predictions. The study also found that farmers who accessed WCIS implemented more climate-resilient practices compared to those without access, but financial limitations remain a substantial barrier to broader adoption.

We also find that nearly a quarter of the households in our sample report changing food consumption and dietary choices in response to climate impacts. Over 25% were scored as being moderately food insecure and 17% as severely food insecure. While the study found that farmers who access some form of WCIS have lower food insecurity scores and tend to implement more adaptive agricultural practices, the direct effects of access to WCIS and the adoption of adaptive agricultural practices on food security were not statistically significant when controlling for socioeconomic factors.

This study highlights several opportunities to improve the delivery and impact of WCIS. Raising awareness of LTACs and ACBs through locally trusted channels such as radio broadcasts and effective outreach by climate intermediaries, can enhance accessibility. Integrating scientific data with farmers’ traditional knowledge and priorities, while ensuring their meaningful end-to-end participation in the LTAC process, is key to creating actionable, context-relevant recommendations. Further research is needed to understand how climate information and advisories from LTACs and ACBs are shared, with whom, and how farmer networks can enhance spillover.

The success of WCIS in this region depends on a multifaceted approach that goes beyond information dissemination to address the structural barriers limiting farmers’ adaptive capacity. Tailoring WCIS delivery to local contexts, providing financial and capacity-building support, and fostering more inclusive, participatory mechanisms can enhance the role of WCIS as a tool for building resilience to climate risks among Guatemala’s smallholder farmers, as has been shown with similar models in West Africa and Latin America. However, climate services alone are not enough; broader interventions are needed to reduce vulnerability and strengthen rural livelihoods. In Guatemala’s Dry Corridor, where drought is a primary risk, farmers would greatly benefit from improved water storage systems and irrigation access.