CARIBBEAN AGROMETEOROLOGICAL INITIATIVE (CAMI)

Funded by the European Union under the African,
Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Science and Technology Programme

The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) in partnership with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of ten Caribbean member States have received a grant from the European Union through the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Science and Technology (S&T) Programme for the Caribbean Agrometeorological Initiative (CAMI).

Objective

The objective of the programme is to increase and sustain agricultural productivity at the farm level in the Caribbean region through improved dissemination and application of weather and climate information using an integrated and coordinated approach. The results are expected to benefit the farming community in the Caribbean Region.

The programme which was launched in February 2010, will run for a three-year period. It was launched at a Stakeholders Meeting, held in Barbados and included all of the partner organisations along with stakeholder Ministries and agencies. A Steering Committee meeting preceded the stakeholder meeting, where detailed plans for the execution of the programme were discussed and finalised. These plans include training of personnel of Meteorological and Agricultural Services, CARDI and CIMH in relevant aspects of agrometeorology.

The project is expected to assist the farming community in the Caribbean region through provision of information through the regional network of Meteorological and Agricultural Services and research institutes on predictors of the rainy season potential and development of effective pest and disease forecasting systems for improved on-farm management decisions; preparation and wide diffusion of a user-friendly weather and climate information newsletter and organization of forums with the farming community and agricultural extension agencies to promote a better understanding of the applications of weather and climate information and to obtain feedback to provide better products from the meteorological services for use by the farming community.

An important aspect of the programme is the organization of regular forums with the farming community and agricultural extension agencies to promote a better understanding of the applications of weather and climate information and to obtain feedback to provide better products from the meteorological services for use by the farming community.

For more information contact Mr Adrian Trotman, Agrometeorologist and Chief of Applied Meteorology and Climatology (Ag.), Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (atrotman@cimh.edu.bb).