Climate project targets 30,000 Kasulu residents

KIGOMA: SOME 30,000 residents from four wards in Kasulu District, Kigoma Region, are expected to benefit from a new project aimed at helping communities use weather information to better plan their economic activities and strengthen resilience against climate change.

The Tanzania Wote Equality Alliance (TAWEA) Executive Director, Mr Festo Mrina, said the two-year project, funded by the Clarities Aid Foundation America (CAF America) at a cost of 127m/-, is being implemented in five villages across four wards surrounding forest reserve areas.

He said the targeted communities have experienced the effects of climate change caused by environmental degradation, which has affected agriculture, livestock keeping and environmental conservation.

“The project seeks to improve public understanding and use of official weather forecasts issued by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) through community meetings and radio programmes, enabling residents to make informed decisions when planning their daily and economic activities,” Mr Mrina said.

He said TAWEA is implementing the project in partnership with TMA, the Kasulu District Council, village governments, environmental stakeholders and local communities.

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Speaking during the project’s launch meeting, a tutor at the Kigoma Meteorological Training Institute, Justus Mbawala, said the use of weather information among the public remains low because many people still regard weather forecasts as no different from traditional predictions.

He said wider use of reliable weather information would help communities plan agricultural, livestock and other economic activities while reducing losses associated with climate variability and extreme weather events.

“The project will help broaden public awareness and improve understanding of the importance of weather information in planning economic and social activities,” he said.

Opening the meeting, Acting Kasulu District Administrative Secretary Hassan Lucas urged village and ward leaders to encourage residents to regularly access and use official weather forecasts.

He said greater use of weather information would improve productivity while helping communities cope with the growing impacts of climate change.