Farmers in Burkina Faso's Balés region recently took part in a training session focused on the installation and use of farmer rain gauges. This initiative, organized by the Burkinabe Red Cross (CRBF) and the National Meteorological Agency of Burkina Faso (ANAM), is part of the Hydromet Burkina Faso project. The goal is to teach farmers how to use this simple tool and enable them to benefit their communities.
The sessions aim to build community capacity for using meteorological instruments. By identifying the agroclimatic profile of their province, communities can determine the start and end dates of the rainy season more effectively. This helps in selecting suitable agricultural inputs for their specific context. Training has been conducted across various regions, including Boussé, Ziniaré, Zorgho, Gaoua, Dedougou Boromo, Manga, and Koudougou.
According to the World Meteorological Organization and UNESCO, a rain gauge measures rainfall at a given point over time. The Hydromet Project aims to improve weather forecast reliability by supporting various national agencies.
Climate events in Burkina Faso are becoming more unpredictable and intense, impacting rural communities significantly with risks such as food and water insecurity. These communities often face forced displacement due to these impacts.
To address these challenges, Burkina Faso received financing from the World Bank Group and the Green Climate Fund under the Strengthening Climate Resilience Project (Hydromet). With a budget of $33 million, this project aims to help communities adapt their lifestyles and livelihoods to climate changes.
In collaboration with ANAM, 9,700 rain gauges were distributed nationwide through the Hydromet Project. A team from the project management unit spent three weeks traveling across Burkina Faso with national press members to gather feedback from trainers and farmers on their experiences with rain gauges. This campaign supported activity implementation and raised awareness among many people.