Test developed for determining farmers knowledge of weather forecasts in south India

Abstract

Climate is one of the important elements influencing agricultural production in India. Farmers’ knowledge, in this study, is the extent of information and understanding possessed by them regarding weather, and agricultural weather forecasts and it was measured by developing a test in two of the South Indian states viz., Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Both scientific and traditional information concerning weather forecasts is embedded in the test items. The test items comprise both traditional and scientific information regarding weather forecasts. Results of the study revealed that majority of the farmers’ possessed medium level of weather knowledge. It would be desirable for agro-meteorologists and extension specialists to work with farmers’ by building up on the existing knowledge of farmers’ as outlined and measured in this paper, regarding providing weather forecast information. This would further ensure enhanced knowledge of farmers’ regarding weather forecasts thereby, achieving sustainability in food production in the context of climate change. This study would serve as a benchmark for furthering knowledge of farmers’ regarding weather forecasts thereby, achieving sustainability in food production