Climate information for better decisions

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges to sustainable development in Mozambique. In recent years, the country has faced an increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including prolonged droughts, floods, tropical cyclones, and irregular rainfall. The northern provinces, particularly Niassa and Nampula, have been experiencing serious consequences for agricultural production, food security, and livelihoods. Rural communities in this area depend on rain-fed agriculture:  changes in weather patterns and extreme events make it increasingly difficult to plan agricultural activities, reduce production risks, and secure a household income.

Through the Olima Wokumi project, Helvetas is working with smallholder farmers to strengthen their access to and use of climate services. The project aims to improve farmers’ climate resilience, enabling communities to use meteorological forecasts and climate information in agricultural decision-making, thereby contributing to more resilient and sustainable production systems.

The project, in collaboration with INAM, the national authority and competence center for climate and weather information, and with WFP, an experienced partner in this area, conducted the first Training of Trainers (ToT) in the Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA) methodology in Niassa. This methodology, developed by the University of Reading and  applied in more than 20 countries, supports farmers in using historical climate information, seasonal forecasts, and local knowledge to better plan their agricultural, livestock, and livelihood activities.

The training brought together government extension technicians from the District Services of Economic Activities in five districts of Niassa (Lichinga, Mandimba, Cuamba) and Nampula (Malema and Ribaue), as well as development organizations, cooperation partners, and the private sector (Local Service Providers).

The five-day training combined theoretical and practical knowledge, enabling technicians to act as multipliers and support farmers in making informed agricultural decisions based on climate information and available production options (agriculture, livestock, and livelihoods).

PICSA: a tool for more informed decisions

The PICSA approach places farmers at the heart of decision-making. Rather than following generic recommendations, farmers are supported to review climate and livelihood information that reflects their own context. This helps them weigh different options and decide what works best for their farms and families.

Farmers look at their seasonal calendar and reflect on past climate patterns, combining their own experience with information from national meteorological services. Together, these insights help them better anticipate rainfall patterns and climate risks, and plan their farming activities accordingly.

Trained facilitators guide discussions using simple, visual tools, such as drawings and charts, to present local farming practices and income sources, including crops, livestock, and other activities. This makes the process inclusive, ensuring that everyone can participate and understand, regardless of literacy level.

Key benefits of PICSA include:

• A clearer understanding of local climate patterns and variability
• Improved ability to plan ahead of the rainy season
• More appropriate farming practices, leading to better productivity
• Stronger capacity to make informed, evidence-based decisions

Experience from several African countries shows that farmers using PICSA are better equipped to manage climate uncertainty and make more efficient use of their resources.

From training to action: using PICSA to promote agroecology

Through the Olima Wokumi project, PICSA will be gradually introduced in target communities in Niassa and Nampula as part of regular rural extension activities. Trained technicians and selected PICSA Champion Farmers will facilitate participatory sessions where producers analyse seasonal calendars, past climate trends, and seasonal forecasts, combining local knowledge with information from meteorological services. This process will help farmers make better-informed decisions about what to produce, when to plant, and which strategies to adopt to reduce climate-related risks. PICSA will therefore serve as a practical entry point for the project’s broader objective: supporting the transition from conventional agriculture to more resilient agroecological systems.

In addition to promoting the PICSA approach and a better understanding of climate variability, the project will also foster access to and use of improved short-term weather forecasts. This is even more important in view of seasonal shifts and the increasing frequency of extreme events.

Once farmers have assessed climate risks and production options, they will be supported to translate their decisions into concrete practices, such as combining annual and perennial crops, adopting agroforestry systems, using native and locally adapted varieties, improving soil fertility, managing water more efficiently, and applying appropriate post-harvest technologies. Practical demonstrations, farm planning exercises, and technical follow-up will help ensure that this knowledge is not only discussed during training sessions but also applied in the field. This approach will also help producers diversify their food and income sources, while reducing the risk of crop failure amid increasing climate uncertainty. Native crops and adapted varieties, together with improved knowledge of sowing periods and crop water requirements, can strengthen farmers’ capacity to plan production according to local agroclimatic conditions. At the same time, agroecological practices such as composting, soil cover, intercropping, agroforestry, and the use of biopesticides can contribute to healthier soils, more stable production systems, and reduced dependence on external inputs.

The project will also promote community-based solutions to specific local challenges, including the use of natural repellents and biopesticides to help mitigate human-wildlife conflict, which has significantly affected farming communities in parts of Niassa. By building on locally available resources and knowledge, these practices can offer practical, low-cost responses to problems that directly affect household food security and income.

To support this transition, Olima Wokumi will strengthen collaboration between farmers’ organizations, extension services, INAM, local service providers, agro-dealers, private sector actors, and government institutions. These linkages will help ensure that climate information is translated into practical, accessible recommendations and that agroecological solutions are adapted to farmers’ realities, market opportunities, and environmental conditions.

In addition, the project will work with young people in rural areas to develop vocational skills connected to agroecology, climate-informed agriculture, and sustainable production. In areas where job opportunities are limited, these skills can offer young people new perspectives and help build stronger local capacities for sustainable farming.

In this way, PICSA will become a practical bridge between climate-informed planning and the adoption of more resilient, diversified, and sustainable farming systems.