气候服务的新信息和通信技术：来自加纳阿达东区农民的证据

IF 4 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Climate Services Pub Date : 2025-01-01 DOI:10.1016/j.cliser.2024.100535

Rebecca Sarku , Famous Addi , Emmanuel M.N.A.N. Attoh

{"title":"气候服务的新信息和通信技术：来自加纳阿达东区农民的证据","authors":"Rebecca Sarku , Famous Addi , Emmanuel M.N.A.N. Attoh","doi":"10.1016/j.cliser.2024.100535","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>How people respond to climate information service (CIS) depends on how information is designed and communicated. While the introduction of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) has improved the delivery of CIS, there are persistent usability challenges, especially among smallholder farmers. This study examined the usability of new ICTs in delivering CIS for farming in Ada East District, Ghana. The research addressed the question, how do smallholder farmers respond to CIS delivered through new ICTs, and what are the usability challenges of these technologies. Using data from document reviews, interviews, and focus group discussions, findings show that farmers predominantly rely on local or indigenous knowledge and traditional ICTs like radio and television for CIS, 7 New ICTs including: Website on weather information, Bulletin on social media: Facebook, WhatsApp weather forecast presented as a flyer, YouTube video on weather information, Short message service (SMS), Audio WhatsApp weather forecast and Weather apps were identified, providing daily, weekly and seasonal forecasts outlooks. However, the utilisation of these new ICTs is relatively limited. Only a few farmers were aware of the delivery of CIS through these new ICTs. Farmers with smartphones are mainly those who access daily and seasonal forecast outlooks using new ICTs, while face-to-face interactions remain the common mode for disseminating information among farmers. Although new ICTs offer forecasts, usability is influenced by the relevance and comprehension of the content, location success and time, typography, symbols and graphics, language clarity, feedback and interactivity and ability to use the new ICT tools. The findings of the study have implications for CIS developers and providers to incorporate design principles such as revision of text structure, font style and size, symbols, wording pattern and word counts. It shed light on the evolving landscape of CIS delivery in farming communities, where traditional methods coexist with emerging digital platforms and provided knowledge on the need to raise awareness on the use of new ICTs with CIS among farmers.</div></div><div><h3>Practical Implications of the research for policy makers and practitioners</h3><div>The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Climate Information Services (CIS) offers a transformative approach to agricultural decision-making for farmers. This research identifies various new ICT platforms including Websites, Bulletin on social media: Facebook, WhatsApp weather forecast presented as a flyer, YouTube video on weather information, Short message service (SMS, Audio WhatsApp weather forecast and Weather apps, as key tools for delivering weather and climate forecasts to farmers. The findings have crucial implications for policymakers, businesses, and agricultural extension services, emphasising the role of ICTs in enhancing access to vital climate information for improved farming practices.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Policy Makers</h3><div>Policymakers should work towards standardising content and delivery methods of CIS across various ICT platforms to ensure consistency and reliability. This includes setting guidelines for accuracy, clarity, and comprehensibility of weather information. Furthermore, regulatory frameworks should be established to monitor and evaluate the performance of new ICT-based CIS providers, ensuring they meet the required standards and addressing issues of misinformation.</div><div>Policies should encourage the development of user-friendly ICT platforms that cater to the diverse needs of farmers. This involves promoting the design of intuitive interfaces that are easy to navigate and available in local languages. Policy support for user-centred design can enhance the effectiveness of ICT-based CIS by making them more accessible and practical for end-users.</div><div>Enabling feedback mechanisms within new ICT-based CIS can enhance their relevance and usability. Policy initiatives should support integrating interactive features in CIS platforms that allow farmers to provide feedback, ask questions, and seek clarifications. This could involve the development of mobile apps or platforms where farmers can communicate directly with meteorologists or agricultural experts.</div><div>The varied use of platforms such as websites, social media, and mobile apps allows for tailored dissemination of CIS to different segments of the farming population. Policy interventions should ensure equitable access to these technologies across all regions, especially targeting under-served and rural areas. This could involve subsidising data costs or providing ICT training to farmers to bridge the digital divide.</div><div>Investment in ICT infrastructure is essential to support the effective delivery of CIS. This includes enhancing internet connectivity in rural areas, promoting the adoption of smartphones, and improving mobile network coverage. Such infrastructural developments will facilitate farmers’ access to real-time weather updates and ensure the sustainability of new ICT-based CIS.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Businesses</h3><div>The emergence of new ICT-based CIS presents significant business opportunities for ICT, telecommunications, and software development companies. Businesses can innovate by developing and marketing new applications, platforms, and services tailored to the needs of farmers. For instance, creating localised weather apps or integrating CIS with agricultural management systems can provide value-added services to the farming community. Businesses can explore partnerships with CIS providers to sponsor or subsidise the delivery of weather information services to farmers. This can enhance brand visibility and corporate social responsibility (CSR) while supporting the agricultural sector. For instance, telecommunications companies can offer discounted data plans for accessing CIS or collaborate with the Ghana Meteorological Agency to disseminate free weather updates via short message service (SMS).</div><div>The adoption of new ICTs in agriculture opens up new markets for businesses. Companies can target rural and farming communities with customised products and services such as affordable smartphones, data plans, or specialised apps for agricultural purposes. Market research and segmentation strategies can help businesses identify and cater to the specific needs of different farming segments.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Agricultural Extension Services</h3><div>Agricultural extension services should focus on training and capacity building to help farmers effectively use new ICTs to access CIS. This includes training sessions, workshops, and tutorials on using smartphones, navigating websites, subscribing to SMS services, and understanding weather forecasts. Building farmers’ digital literacy is crucial for maximising the benefits of ICT-based CIS.</div><div>Agricultural extension services can modernise their practices by integrating new ICT-based CIS into their outreach programs. Extension agents can use mobile apps, social media, and other digital platforms to disseminate weather information, offer real-time advice, and engage with farmers more effectively. This approach can enhance the reach and impact of extension services, making them more responsive to the needs of farmers.</div><div>To enhance the usability of CIS, agricultural extension services should ensure that weather information is localised and presented in a context relevant to farmers. This involves translating weather updates into local languages, using culturally appropriate symbols, and providing practical advice that farmers can apply directly to their agricultural activities.</div><div>Agriculture extension services can facilitate the formation of community networks or groups that share weather information and CIS updates via ICT platforms like WhatsApp or Facebook. These networks can serve as support systems where farmers exchange information, share experiences, and discuss the implications of weather forecasts on their farming practices.</div><div>Establishing a feedback loop is essential for the continuous improvement of new ICT-based CIS. Extension agents can collect feedback from farmers on the usability, accuracy, and relevance of the information provided through various ICT platforms. This feedback can be used to refine and enhance CIS, ensuring that it meets the evolving needs of the farming community.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>By recognising and addressing the unique challenges and opportunities presented in our research findings, stakeholders can enhance the accessibility, usability, and impact of weather information on farming practices. Together, these efforts can contribute to a more resilient and informed agricultural sector that is better equipped to navigate the complexities of climate variability and change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":51332,"journal":{"name":"Climate Services","volume":"37 ","pages":"Article 100535"},"PeriodicalIF":4.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"New Information and Communication Technologies for climate services: Evidence from farmers in Ada East District, Ghana\",\"authors\":\"Rebecca Sarku , Famous Addi , Emmanuel M.N.A.N. Attoh\",\"doi\":\"10.1016/j.cliser.2024.100535\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"<div><div>How people respond to climate information service (CIS) depends on how information is designed and communicated. While the introduction of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) has improved the delivery of CIS, there are persistent usability challenges, especially among smallholder farmers. This study examined the usability of new ICTs in delivering CIS for farming in Ada East District, Ghana. The research addressed the question, how do smallholder farmers respond to CIS delivered through new ICTs, and what are the usability challenges of these technologies. Using data from document reviews, interviews, and focus group discussions, findings show that farmers predominantly rely on local or indigenous knowledge and traditional ICTs like radio and television for CIS, 7 New ICTs including: Website on weather information, Bulletin on social media: Facebook, WhatsApp weather forecast presented as a flyer, YouTube video on weather information, Short message service (SMS), Audio WhatsApp weather forecast and Weather apps were identified, providing daily, weekly and seasonal forecasts outlooks. However, the utilisation of these new ICTs is relatively limited. Only a few farmers were aware of the delivery of CIS through these new ICTs. Farmers with smartphones are mainly those who access daily and seasonal forecast outlooks using new ICTs, while face-to-face interactions remain the common mode for disseminating information among farmers. Although new ICTs offer forecasts, usability is influenced by the relevance and comprehension of the content, location success and time, typography, symbols and graphics, language clarity, feedback and interactivity and ability to use the new ICT tools. The findings of the study have implications for CIS developers and providers to incorporate design principles such as revision of text structure, font style and size, symbols, wording pattern and word counts. It shed light on the evolving landscape of CIS delivery in farming communities, where traditional methods coexist with emerging digital platforms and provided knowledge on the need to raise awareness on the use of new ICTs with CIS among farmers.</div></div><div><h3>Practical Implications of the research for policy makers and practitioners</h3><div>The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Climate Information Services (CIS) offers a transformative approach to agricultural decision-making for farmers. This research identifies various new ICT platforms including Websites, Bulletin on social media: Facebook, WhatsApp weather forecast presented as a flyer, YouTube video on weather information, Short message service (SMS, Audio WhatsApp weather forecast and Weather apps, as key tools for delivering weather and climate forecasts to farmers. The findings have crucial implications for policymakers, businesses, and agricultural extension services, emphasising the role of ICTs in enhancing access to vital climate information for improved farming practices.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Policy Makers</h3><div>Policymakers should work towards standardising content and delivery methods of CIS across various ICT platforms to ensure consistency and reliability. This includes setting guidelines for accuracy, clarity, and comprehensibility of weather information. Furthermore, regulatory frameworks should be established to monitor and evaluate the performance of new ICT-based CIS providers, ensuring they meet the required standards and addressing issues of misinformation.</div><div>Policies should encourage the development of user-friendly ICT platforms that cater to the diverse needs of farmers. This involves promoting the design of intuitive interfaces that are easy to navigate and available in local languages. Policy support for user-centred design can enhance the effectiveness of ICT-based CIS by making them more accessible and practical for end-users.</div><div>Enabling feedback mechanisms within new ICT-based CIS can enhance their relevance and usability. Policy initiatives should support integrating interactive features in CIS platforms that allow farmers to provide feedback, ask questions, and seek clarifications. This could involve the development of mobile apps or platforms where farmers can communicate directly with meteorologists or agricultural experts.</div><div>The varied use of platforms such as websites, social media, and mobile apps allows for tailored dissemination of CIS to different segments of the farming population. Policy interventions should ensure equitable access to these technologies across all regions, especially targeting under-served and rural areas. This could involve subsidising data costs or providing ICT training to farmers to bridge the digital divide.</div><div>Investment in ICT infrastructure is essential to support the effective delivery of CIS. This includes enhancing internet connectivity in rural areas, promoting the adoption of smartphones, and improving mobile network coverage. Such infrastructural developments will facilitate farmers’ access to real-time weather updates and ensure the sustainability of new ICT-based CIS.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Businesses</h3><div>The emergence of new ICT-based CIS presents significant business opportunities for ICT, telecommunications, and software development companies. Businesses can innovate by developing and marketing new applications, platforms, and services tailored to the needs of farmers. For instance, creating localised weather apps or integrating CIS with agricultural management systems can provide value-added services to the farming community. Businesses can explore partnerships with CIS providers to sponsor or subsidise the delivery of weather information services to farmers. This can enhance brand visibility and corporate social responsibility (CSR) while supporting the agricultural sector. For instance, telecommunications companies can offer discounted data plans for accessing CIS or collaborate with the Ghana Meteorological Agency to disseminate free weather updates via short message service (SMS).</div><div>The adoption of new ICTs in agriculture opens up new markets for businesses. Companies can target rural and farming communities with customised products and services such as affordable smartphones, data plans, or specialised apps for agricultural purposes. Market research and segmentation strategies can help businesses identify and cater to the specific needs of different farming segments.</div></div><div><h3>Implications for Agricultural Extension Services</h3><div>Agricultural extension services should focus on training and capacity building to help farmers effectively use new ICTs to access CIS. This includes training sessions, workshops, and tutorials on using smartphones, navigating websites, subscribing to SMS services, and understanding weather forecasts. Building farmers’ digital literacy is crucial for maximising the benefits of ICT-based CIS.</div><div>Agricultural extension services can modernise their practices by integrating new ICT-based CIS into their outreach programs. Extension agents can use mobile apps, social media, and other digital platforms to disseminate weather information, offer real-time advice, and engage with farmers more effectively. This approach can enhance the reach and impact of extension services, making them more responsive to the needs of farmers.</div><div>To enhance the usability of CIS, agricultural extension services should ensure that weather information is localised and presented in a context relevant to farmers. This involves translating weather updates into local languages, using culturally appropriate symbols, and providing practical advice that farmers can apply directly to their agricultural activities.</div><div>Agriculture extension services can facilitate the formation of community networks or groups that share weather information and CIS updates via ICT platforms like WhatsApp or Facebook. These networks can serve as support systems where farmers exchange information, share experiences, and discuss the implications of weather forecasts on their farming practices.</div><div>Establishing a feedback loop is essential for the continuous improvement of new ICT-based CIS. Extension agents can collect feedback from farmers on the usability, accuracy, and relevance of the information provided through various ICT platforms. This feedback can be used to refine and enhance CIS, ensuring that it meets the evolving needs of the farming community.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>By recognising and addressing the unique challenges and opportunities presented in our research findings, stakeholders can enhance the accessibility, usability, and impact of weather information on farming practices. Together, these efforts can contribute to a more resilient and informed agricultural sector that is better equipped to navigate the complexities of climate variability and change.</div></div>\",\"PeriodicalId\":51332,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"Climate Services\",\"volume\":\"37 \",\"pages\":\"Article 100535\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":4.0000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-01-01\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"Climate Services\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"93\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405880724000906\",\"RegionNum\":3,\"RegionCategory\":\"环境科学与生态学\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q2\",\"JCRName\":\"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Climate Services","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405880724000906","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

摘要

人们对气候信息服务的反应取决于信息的设计和传播方式。虽然新的信息和通信技术（ict）的引入改善了CIS的提供，但仍然存在可用性方面的挑战，特别是在小农中。本研究考察了在加纳阿达东区为农业提供信息通信技术的可用性。该研究解决了以下问题：小农如何响应通过新的ict提供的CIS，以及这些技术的可用性挑战是什么。根据文献综述、访谈和焦点小组讨论的数据，调查结果显示，农民主要依赖当地或土著知识和传统信息通信技术，如广播和电视，7种新型信息通信技术，包括：天气信息网站、社交媒体公告；Facebook、WhatsApp天气预报以传单的形式呈现，YouTube天气信息视频，短信服务（SMS），音频WhatsApp天气预报和天气应用程序被确定，提供每日、每周和季节性预报前景。然而，这些新信息通信技术的利用相对有限。只有少数农民知道通过这些新的信息和通信技术提供CIS。拥有智能手机的农民主要是那些使用新的信息通信技术获取每日和季节性预报展望的人，而面对面的互动仍然是农民之间传播信息的常用模式。虽然新的信息和通信技术提供预测，但可用性受到内容的相关性和理解、地点成功和时间、排版、符号和图形、语言清晰度、反馈和互动性以及使用新的信息和通信技术工具的能力的影响。研究结果对CIS开发人员和提供者具有启示意义，可以将诸如修改文本结构、字体样式和大小、符号、措辞模式和字数等设计原则纳入其中。它揭示了传统方法与新兴数字平台共存的农业社区提供独联体的不断变化的格局，并提供了关于需要提高农民对使用新型信息通信技术和独联体的认识的知识。研究对政策制定者和从业者的实际意义在气候信息服务（CIS）中使用信息通信技术（ict）为农民提供了一种变革性的农业决策方法。这项研究确定了各种新的ICT平台，包括网站，社交媒体公告：Facebook，以传单形式呈现的WhatsApp天气预报，YouTube天气信息视频，短信服务（SMS），音频WhatsApp天气预报和天气应用程序，作为向农民提供天气和气候预报的关键工具。这些发现对政策制定者、企业和农业推广服务具有重要意义，强调了信息通信技术在促进获取重要气候信息以改进农业实践方面的作用。对政策制定者的影响政策制定者应努力实现跨各种ICT平台的CIS内容和交付方法的标准化，以确保一致性和可靠性。这包括为天气信息的准确性、清晰度和可理解性制定准则。此外，应建立监管框架，以监测和评估新的基于ict的CIS提供商的绩效，确保它们符合所需的标准，并解决错误信息的问题。政策应鼓励开发方便用户的信息通信技术平台，以满足农民的不同需求。这包括促进直观界面的设计，使其易于导航，并以当地语言提供。对以用户为中心的设计提供政策支持，可以提高基于信息通信技术的信息系统的有效性，使其对最终用户更容易获得和更实用。在新的基于信息通信技术的CIS中启用反馈机制可以增强其相关性和可用性。政策举措应支持整合CIS平台的互动功能，使农民能够提供反馈、提出问题和寻求澄清。这可能涉及开发移动应用程序或平台，农民可以直接与气象学家或农业专家交流。网站、社交媒体和移动应用程序等平台的不同使用，使CIS能够针对不同的农业人口进行量身定制的传播。政策干预应确保所有区域公平获得这些技术，特别是针对服务不足的农村地区。这可能包括补贴数据成本或向农民提供信息通信技术培训，以弥合数字鸿沟。对信通技术基础设施的投资对于支持有效实施独联体至关重要。这包括加强农村地区的互联网连接，促进智能手机的普及，提高移动网络覆盖率。这些基础设施的发展将促进农民获得实时天气更新，并确保新的基于信息通信技术的信息系统的可持续性。对商业的影响新的基于ICT的CIS的出现为ICT、电信和软件开发公司提供了重要的商业机会。企业可以通过开发和销售适合农民需求的新应用程序、平台和服务来进行创新。例如，创建本地化天气应用程序或将CIS与农业管理系统集成可以为农业社区提供增值服务。企业可以探索与CIS供应商合作，赞助或资助向农民提供天气信息服务。这可以提高品牌知名度和企业社会责任（CSR），同时支持农业部门。例如，电信公司可以为访问CIS提供折扣数据计划，或者与加纳气象局合作，通过短消息服务（SMS）传播免费的天气更新。在农业中采用新的信息通信技术为企业开辟了新的市场。公司可以针对农村和农业社区提供定制的产品和服务，如价格合理的智能手机、数据计划或专门的农业应用程序。市场研究和细分策略可以帮助企业识别和满足不同农业部门的具体需求。对农业推广服务的影响农业推广服务应侧重于培训和能力建设，以帮助农民有效地利用新的信通技术获取农业信息系统。这包括关于使用智能手机、浏览网站、订阅短信服务和了解天气预报的培训课程、研讨会和教程。培养农民的数字素养对于最大限度地发挥基于信息通信技术的CIS的效益至关重要。农业推广服务可以通过将新的基于信息通信技术的信息系统纳入其推广方案，使其实践现代化。推广人员可以使用移动应用程序、社交媒体和其他数字平台传播天气信息，提供实时建议，并更有效地与农民互动。这种方法可以扩大推广服务的范围和影响，使其更能满足农民的需要。为了提高CIS的可用性，农业推广服务应确保天气信息本地化，并在与农民相关的背景下呈现。这包括将最新天气信息翻译成当地语言，使用符合当地文化的符号，并为农民提供可直接应用于农业活动的实用建议。农业推广服务可以促进社区网络或团体的形成，通过WhatsApp或Facebook等ICT平台共享天气信息和CIS更新。这些网络可以作为支持系统，让农民交换信息、分享经验，并讨论天气预报对其农业实践的影响。建立反馈循环对于持续改进新的基于信息通信技术的CIS至关重要。推广人员可以收集农民对通过各种ICT平台提供的信息的可用性、准确性和相关性的反馈。这些反馈可用于改进和增强CIS，确保其满足农业社区不断变化的需求。通过认识和解决我们的研究结果中提出的独特挑战和机遇，利益相关者可以提高天气信息对农业实践的可访问性、可用性和影响。总之，这些努力有助于提高农业部门的抵御能力和知情程度，使其更有能力应对气候变率和变化的复杂性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

查看原文本刊更多论文

New Information and Communication Technologies for climate services: Evidence from farmers in Ada East District, Ghana

How people respond to climate information service (CIS) depends on how information is designed and communicated. While the introduction of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) has improved the delivery of CIS, there are persistent usability challenges, especially among smallholder farmers. This study examined the usability of new ICTs in delivering CIS for farming in Ada East District, Ghana. The research addressed the question, how do smallholder farmers respond to CIS delivered through new ICTs, and what are the usability challenges of these technologies. Using data from document reviews, interviews, and focus group discussions, findings show that farmers predominantly rely on local or indigenous knowledge and traditional ICTs like radio and television for CIS, 7 New ICTs including: Website on weather information, Bulletin on social media: Facebook, WhatsApp weather forecast presented as a flyer, YouTube video on weather information, Short message service (SMS), Audio WhatsApp weather forecast and Weather apps were identified, providing daily, weekly and seasonal forecasts outlooks. However, the utilisation of these new ICTs is relatively limited. Only a few farmers were aware of the delivery of CIS through these new ICTs. Farmers with smartphones are mainly those who access daily and seasonal forecast outlooks using new ICTs, while face-to-face interactions remain the common mode for disseminating information among farmers. Although new ICTs offer forecasts, usability is influenced by the relevance and comprehension of the content, location success and time, typography, symbols and graphics, language clarity, feedback and interactivity and ability to use the new ICT tools. The findings of the study have implications for CIS developers and providers to incorporate design principles such as revision of text structure, font style and size, symbols, wording pattern and word counts. It shed light on the evolving landscape of CIS delivery in farming communities, where traditional methods coexist with emerging digital platforms and provided knowledge on the need to raise awareness on the use of new ICTs with CIS among farmers.

Practical Implications of the research for policy makers and practitioners

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Climate Information Services (CIS) offers a transformative approach to agricultural decision-making for farmers. This research identifies various new ICT platforms including Websites, Bulletin on social media: Facebook, WhatsApp weather forecast presented as a flyer, YouTube video on weather information, Short message service (SMS, Audio WhatsApp weather forecast and Weather apps, as key tools for delivering weather and climate forecasts to farmers. The findings have crucial implications for policymakers, businesses, and agricultural extension services, emphasising the role of ICTs in enhancing access to vital climate information for improved farming practices.

Implications for Policy Makers

Policymakers should work towards standardising content and delivery methods of CIS across various ICT platforms to ensure consistency and reliability. This includes setting guidelines for accuracy, clarity, and comprehensibility of weather information. Furthermore, regulatory frameworks should be established to monitor and evaluate the performance of new ICT-based CIS providers, ensuring they meet the required standards and addressing issues of misinformation.

Policies should encourage the development of user-friendly ICT platforms that cater to the diverse needs of farmers. This involves promoting the design of intuitive interfaces that are easy to navigate and available in local languages. Policy support for user-centred design can enhance the effectiveness of ICT-based CIS by making them more accessible and practical for end-users.

Enabling feedback mechanisms within new ICT-based CIS can enhance their relevance and usability. Policy initiatives should support integrating interactive features in CIS platforms that allow farmers to provide feedback, ask questions, and seek clarifications. This could involve the development of mobile apps or platforms where farmers can communicate directly with meteorologists or agricultural experts.

The varied use of platforms such as websites, social media, and mobile apps allows for tailored dissemination of CIS to different segments of the farming population. Policy interventions should ensure equitable access to these technologies across all regions, especially targeting under-served and rural areas. This could involve subsidising data costs or providing ICT training to farmers to bridge the digital divide.

Investment in ICT infrastructure is essential to support the effective delivery of CIS. This includes enhancing internet connectivity in rural areas, promoting the adoption of smartphones, and improving mobile network coverage. Such infrastructural developments will facilitate farmers’ access to real-time weather updates and ensure the sustainability of new ICT-based CIS.

Implications for Businesses

The emergence of new ICT-based CIS presents significant business opportunities for ICT, telecommunications, and software development companies. Businesses can innovate by developing and marketing new applications, platforms, and services tailored to the needs of farmers. For instance, creating localised weather apps or integrating CIS with agricultural management systems can provide value-added services to the farming community. Businesses can explore partnerships with CIS providers to sponsor or subsidise the delivery of weather information services to farmers. This can enhance brand visibility and corporate social responsibility (CSR) while supporting the agricultural sector. For instance, telecommunications companies can offer discounted data plans for accessing CIS or collaborate with the Ghana Meteorological Agency to disseminate free weather updates via short message service (SMS).

The adoption of new ICTs in agriculture opens up new markets for businesses. Companies can target rural and farming communities with customised products and services such as affordable smartphones, data plans, or specialised apps for agricultural purposes. Market research and segmentation strategies can help businesses identify and cater to the specific needs of different farming segments.

Implications for Agricultural Extension Services

Agricultural extension services should focus on training and capacity building to help farmers effectively use new ICTs to access CIS. This includes training sessions, workshops, and tutorials on using smartphones, navigating websites, subscribing to SMS services, and understanding weather forecasts. Building farmers’ digital literacy is crucial for maximising the benefits of ICT-based CIS.

Agricultural extension services can modernise their practices by integrating new ICT-based CIS into their outreach programs. Extension agents can use mobile apps, social media, and other digital platforms to disseminate weather information, offer real-time advice, and engage with farmers more effectively. This approach can enhance the reach and impact of extension services, making them more responsive to the needs of farmers.

To enhance the usability of CIS, agricultural extension services should ensure that weather information is localised and presented in a context relevant to farmers. This involves translating weather updates into local languages, using culturally appropriate symbols, and providing practical advice that farmers can apply directly to their agricultural activities.

Agriculture extension services can facilitate the formation of community networks or groups that share weather information and CIS updates via ICT platforms like WhatsApp or Facebook. These networks can serve as support systems where farmers exchange information, share experiences, and discuss the implications of weather forecasts on their farming practices.

Establishing a feedback loop is essential for the continuous improvement of new ICT-based CIS. Extension agents can collect feedback from farmers on the usability, accuracy, and relevance of the information provided through various ICT platforms. This feedback can be used to refine and enhance CIS, ensuring that it meets the evolving needs of the farming community.

Conclusion

By recognising and addressing the unique challenges and opportunities presented in our research findings, stakeholders can enhance the accessibility, usability, and impact of weather information on farming practices. Together, these efforts can contribute to a more resilient and informed agricultural sector that is better equipped to navigate the complexities of climate variability and change.

求助全文

通过发布文献求助，成功后即可免费获取论文全文。去求助

来源期刊

Climate Services Multiple-

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

15.60%

发文量

期刊介绍： The journal Climate Services publishes research with a focus on science-based and user-specific climate information underpinning climate services, ultimately to assist society to adapt to climate change. Climate Services brings science and practice closer together. The journal addresses both researchers in the field of climate service research, and stakeholders and practitioners interested in or already applying climate services. It serves as a means of communication, dialogue and exchange between researchers and stakeholders. Climate services pioneers novel research areas that directly refer to how climate information can be applied in methodologies and tools for adaptation to climate change. It publishes best practice examples, case studies as well as theories, methods and data analysis with a clear connection to climate services. The focus of the published work is often multi-disciplinary, case-specific, tailored to specific sectors and strongly application-oriented. To offer a suitable outlet for such studies, Climate Services journal introduced a new section in the research article type. The research article contains a classical scientific part as well as a section with easily understandable practical implications for policy makers and practitioners. The journal''s focus is on the use and usability of climate information for adaptation purposes underpinning climate services.