(HERALD ZW) Experts predict normal rainfall for 2012/13 season

Experts predict normal rainfall for 2012/13 season
Saturday, 25 August 2012 00:00
Tarisai Machakaire Herald Reporter

SOUTHERN Africa will receive normal to above normal rainfall for the 2012/2013 farming season, weather experts have said.

The experts, who attended the just-ended Southern Regional Climate Outlook Forum in Harare, said the region was expected to receive normal to above normal rainfall during the first part of the season from October to December.

However, the southern, eastern, northern parts and Madagascar are expected to get normal to below normal rains over the same period.

The entire region is expected to receive normal to above normal rains for the second part of the season covering January to March.

The period between October and March is the main rainfall season for most of Southern Africa.
Meteorological Services Department director Dr Amos Makarau said the local weather forecast will be issued in due course.
“We came out with a consensus forecast, member-states will have a zoomed out product which has

more details,” he said.
The Outlook Forum, that was hosted by the Meteorological Services Department, was aimed at presenting a consensus forecast for the 2012/13 farming season.
Principal director in the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development Mr Valentine Sinemani highlighted the importance of the forum in assisting Governments to make economic decisions.
“The SARCOF process provides us with a critical decision tool for Government as it ensures that we are better prepared for the upcoming season as many sectors of the economy are tied to seasonal climate patterns,” he said.
Extremes in climate variations, which are perennial in the region, could wreak havoc to socio-economic development.
“Every effort needs to be deployed to strengthen the SARCOF process as it provides a credible early warning mechanism on adverse seasonal climatic conditions.
“It is one of the tools used by governments in planning so as to meet Millennium Development Goals on food security and poverty alleviation,” he said.
University of Zimbabwe Physics Department representative Mrs Juliet Gwenzi urged experts to engage local systems when deciding on seasonal factors.
“Many of the local systems that are backbone to community resilience are being viewed as primitive yet they have become important tools to understanding climate change and variability,” said Mrs Gwenzi.
She said it was important for weather forecasts to be presented in local languages that are easily understood by farmers.
“Rural and poor people are vulnerable to climate change and variability but they don’t fully understand the idea of uncertainty and probability,” she said.
Sadc secretariat Dr Vitalis Chipfakacha said it was important for the health sector to be directly involved in decisions and predictions on climate to be able to facilitate help in the case of health hazards.