The Rwanda Meteorology Agency has embarked on a campaign that is intended to help Rwandans, especially farmers, get information about climate change in order to prevent disasters.

The move comes as disasters, including strong winds, heavy rain, earthquake, lightning, droughts continue to wreck havoc on people’s lives and propoerty.

It was announced on Wednesday in Huye District, Southern Province during a one-day workshop intended to sensitise people on how to use meteorological data in disaster prevention as well as show local leaders how they can help the people they serve access the data.

The workshop brought together local leaders, Rwanda Red Cross representatives, farmers’ representatives and officials from the Rwanda Meteorology Agency as well as other partners in weather and climate.

The workshop also sought to sensitise the local leaders on how they could help safeguard meteorological equipment.

Anthony Twahirwa, the head of weather/climate services and applications at Rwanda Meteorology Agency, said the partnership of the agency and farmers and the community will mitigate the effects of climate change. He said the agency wants to reach the people and set up mechanisms through which they can access meteorological information. He said there was a toll free number, 6040, that people can call for meteorological information.

Prosper Ahishyize, the president of IKOAIRU, a union of maize farmers in Ruhango District told The New Times that heavy rains and lengthy sunny seasons have affected their crops and there is a problem

"We have to get timely information so that we insure our crops against disasters. We also need clear and favourable terms for agriculture insurance through workingwith insurance agents,” he noted.

He said disaster or climate change related information would reach farmers through the mainstream media, meetings, emails, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) and Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB)’s websites and publications, and via mobile phones.

Speaking about the importance of meteorology, Twahirwa said said when famers do not know when it will rain, the amount of rain to expect as well as how long it will rain, they cannot plan well.

Aminadab Tuyisenge, a forecast officer at Rwanda Meteorological Agency, said there is now an SMS system where people can ask for information about the prevailing weather conditions.

Twahirwa said, so far, there are over 200 meteorological stations in the country, of which about 45 are automatic as well as satellite receivers which get information from satellites.

Challenges facing prediction

On people’s concerns that the meteorology agency is sometimes wrong in its prediction, Twahirwa said the climate predictions it makes meet expectation at the rate of 85 per cent.

"We still face challenges related to weather and climate volatility. Wind from somewhere (outside the country) might take away the clouds that were expected to provide rain. That is something we cannot control.

Temperature might carry away such clouds as well,” he noted.

Another challenge that was discussed at the meeting was the issue of meteorological stations getting damaged.

The weather agency requested local leaders to take ownership of the ‘‘expensive’’ meteorological equipment.

During the workshop, a WhatsApp group was created for participants to share information about climate change.

The meteorological agency also proposed to avail a focal point in charge of informing the Southern Province about the province’s climate and weather conditions.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw