Joseph K. Masonda
Accurate weather prediction is one of the 20th century's most significant achievements, saving
lives, protecting property, and guiding risk management globally. Annual investments in weather
and climate services amount to tens of billions of dollars, delivering returns far exceeding their
cost. Despite these advances, small-scale farmers in the Global South often underuse weather
forecasts, exacerbating food insecurity and reduced agricultural productivity in these vulnerable
communities. Over the past 30 years, research has prioritized seasonal climate forecasts (SCF)
over daily weather forecasts, even though SCFs are less accurate and less impactful for farmers’
daily decision-making. To address this gap, this study investigates why farmers do or do not use
weather forecasts.
Project Point of Contact: Erica Goto (ericagoto@arizona.edu)