Development of an agricultural weather policy

Climate is one of the most important factors determining the sustainability of agricultural production systems. More emphasis must be placed on understanding the influence of changing climate conditions on sustainable agricultural systems, given the increasing limitations of the natural resource base. Agrometeorologists can play a leading role in bridging the gaps between the diverse multi-disciplinary fields of science, by reaching out to farmers, extension service personnel, and the agricultural business community. The farming community must cope with issues of climate variability and climate change, and, the challenge for agricultural meteorologists is to develop a coordinated national agricultural weather policy to assist agriculture as it deals with these issues. Agricultural weather policy must be formulated so that proactive long-term preparedness activities are strengthened to ensure agricultural sustainability and to preserve natural resources. Preparedness must be the essential foundation of an agricultural weather policy that builds upon mitigation measures and adaptation strategies to cope with climate variability and climate change as it affects agriculture, forestry, rangelands, and fisheries.