A Metrological and Climate change expert says lack of accurate information on weather patterns is costing the country urge sums of money and revenue, and lost production time for rain dependent farmers.
Suman Jain who is also a senior mathematics and statistics lectures at the University of Zambia has advised government to invest in research and equipment that is able to accurately predict the outcomes of the weather if the country is to survive climate change happening around the world
Jain told the Zambia Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that Zambia has high chances of experiencing a cyclone that has killed several people while leaving many families homeless in neighboring countries.
“With the current climate change and weather patterns, chances of Zambia experiencing a cyclone are very high. There is need for government to invest more in the Metrological Department of Zambia so that the institution can produce more accurate weather information which will lessen the impact of disasters that are likely to affects the notion while allowing people to adequately prepare for what is to come” she said.
The expert further stated that the dry spells that the country has experienced is going to have a negative impact of the agriculture sector despite having a good rainfall pattern in the Northern Part of the country.
She says if accurate information was giving to people at the beginning of the rain season, the damage that has been caused to the crops could have been lessened. She added that information such as ‘above’ or ‘below’ the rain fall pattern is not accurate enough to explain the real situation.
