Local Perception of Climate Variability as a Guide to Weather Forecasting and Farmer Decision Making in Beaniky and Antseky Ambovombe – Androy, Madagascar

Abstract

Showing the reality of climate change at the spatiotemporal scale and understanding its meanings based on readings of local indicators is fundamental knowledge for developing various adaptation strategies in Androy. Specifically, it made an inventory of the biophysical indicators used in decision making on the agricultural calendars. It also characterized the perceptions of the inhabitants on climate change impacts through determining the type of local indicators linked on weather forecasting.The ethnographic field study was conducted with 44 respondents who had not left the localities in the past 10 years and were selected by purposive sampling. Data was further analyzed qualitatively by content analysis given the prevalent use of Likert and Osgood type scales analyses. The data were collected on indigenous perceptions and knowledge of climate, types of indicators and their functioning. The findings showed that 93% of the participants perceived the reality of climate variability. This change exposed the farmers to negatives impacts (100%). Local people possessed high level of climate knowledge (61%) from which they identified main 27 local time markers in the zone of Ambovombe -Androy. This diversity implies that the populations rely mainly on the plant, animal and abiotical indicators present in their immediate environment to direct and adapt their agricultural activities/calendars.