21 October 2014: The Climate Field School, organized by the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) with the Agriculture Agency of Banten Province in the village of Gempolsari, convened for a three-month session from 14 July to 3 October 2014, during which farmers reported a 25% increase in corn harvests.

During the session, BMKG staff and trained extension workers met with farmers every 10 days to discuss how to apply weather and climate information during the planting and growing seasons. The 25 participating farmers were introduced to climate information through experimental techniques and engaged in discussions on such topics as cloud and rain formation processes, meteorological instruments, indigenous knowledge and crop calendars.

BMKG Director-General, Andi Eka Sakya, noted that corn yields increased by 24.25% from the previous average of 32-33 tons per hectare to 39.76 tons per hectare, and attributed this success to the knowledge gained by the farmers, who will now be able to train other farmers.

The Climate Field School’s main objectives are to: translate technical climate information into easy-to-understand language for farmers; improve access to, and use of, climate services; and improve food security. The methodology is in line with the aims of the Global Framework of Climate Services (GFCS), which seeks to bring together providers and users of climate services, and increase and improve agricultural production and food security.

Since 2010, BMKG has reached more than 3,600 extension workers throughout Indonesia, and has expanded from 11 provinces in 2011 to 25 provinces in 2014. In 2015, Climate Field Schools will be held in 33 provinces and climate information activities will also include the participation of fishermen.

BMKG, supported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), hosted a seminar for Asia Pacific countries in August, to share the Indonesian experience in implementing the Climate Field School program with other countries. Participants visited the Climate Field School in Gempolsari to learn, first hand, how climate information and services can improve agricultural production and improve livelihoods. The WMO aims to expand the Climate Field School approach to other regions, given its success in strengthening food security. [WMO Press Release]