Agro-meteorology in the field
The training organized by SAMIS project in collaboration with De-RISK project and OTT company by the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) at the Dansavanh Hotel.
Vientiane, December 11th — The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology is hosting a national level training involving 15 District and Province Offices for Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE) in which 15 automatic stations to measure weather and agro-climatic indicators are being installed.
The stations are being installed with the support of the project Strengthening Agro-climatic Monitoring and Information Systems (SAMIS) implemented with the the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and financed by the Global Environment Financing (GEF) and 50 participants are foreseen.
The SAMIS project is preparing that training in collaboration with the project “Applying seasonal climate forecasting and innovative insurance solutions to climate risk management in the agriculture sector in SE Asia” otherwise known as De-RISK SE Asia. The project, implemented by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) together with International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and University of Southern Queensland (USQ) is financed by the International Climate Initiative of German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (IKI-BMU) and the project web page is https://bit.ly/2J5rJxr Finally, a key contribution to the training will be given by the Lao National Radio.
This training is in the framework of the Laos Climate Service for Agriculture (LaCSA). The LaCSA system is outstanding achievement of DMH and SAMIS project. The LaCSA system is providing rainfall and temperature seasonal forecast as well as crop calendar to farmers on near real-time (with monthly and weekly bulletin), which will be very influential for making their decision on seasonal agriculture production such as selection of suitable crop species for cultivation in difficult condition of climate change. This will be able to ensure on more stable and sustainable production, higher productivity, improve food security, reduce the risk of disease and pest in Lao PDR. In addition, MAF representative will present field level activities helping farmers to have access to the data. Information about LaCSA are available at the web page https://www.facebook.com/samisdmh.
The content of the training will be wide. The local level technical staff will learn about agro-meteorology and pest and disease. Also, it will learn how to use and manage the weather stations, including what are the instruments that we have installed, what is their use, and which sensors are input for LaCSA. Also, the CIAT will train about how to collect additional agronomical data used in the modelling. Finally, the Lao National Lao National Radio presents loudspeaker reading.
Stations’ software and automatic transmission system, so that the data can be used between one hour from the measurement. With the participation of an international expert from the company OTT, the training will include stations; data visualization with multiple screens and options that are customizable (displays data graphically, but also as text in a table,), data processing such as simple report, development of online advanced statistic, pest and disease modelling system. Also, data management for irrigation modelling will be shared. This will be useful for experts to improve their capacity to prepare climate services for farmers.
In addition, the experts will learn how to use the data distribution platform, and how to use alarms and automatic events alerts for disaster risk management. This can be used to inform or send automatic alarms to the user about a specific events.
The training will also expand collaboration and knowledge at local level. Nearly 50 participants from Kong District in Pakse, Laongam District in Saravan, Champhone District in Savannakhet, Anouvong District in Xaisomboun, Pek District districts in XiengKhoung, Kham and Phonehong Districts in Vientiane Province and Kham, from Pheing District, XeingHone District in Xayniabouly Province, XiengNguen District in Luang Prabang province, Houn District in Oudoumxay province, Sing District, LaungNamtha District in LuangNamtha province, Hauysai District, TonPheung District in Borkeo province are participatingis well into the process of installing 15 weather stations that automatically measures weather and agro-meteorological indicators in the provinces of Xaisomboun, Luangprabang, Xayabouli, Borkeo, Oudomxay, Champasak, XiengKhouang, Saravanh, Vientiane Province, Vientiane Capital and Luangnamtha.