Met Department to use IKS

THE Meteorological Services Department will this year, for the first time in its history, incorporate Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in its weather forecasts, MSD director Dr Amos Makarau has said.

IKS are the understandings, skills and philosophies developed by society through interacting and studying its natural surroundings over a long period of time. For example, in some parts of the country the crying of the Hornbill bird signifies the coming of rainfall within five days.

For rural and indigenous communities throughout the world, IKS informs decision making about fundamental aspects of day to day life particularly in agriculture.

The idea of incorporating IKS has been mooted in the country for a long time, but has repeatedly failed to materialise due to various reasons.

However, Dr Makarau said MSD is now prepared to work with province, district, village or ward-based groups of people who have structured and sustainable IKS.

“We are willing to work with people in IKS to improve our forecasts and make them more relevant to specific communities,” he said.

“It must be understood that IKS differ from one area to another as they have different climatic conditions and natural ecosystems.”

MSD has already worked with communities in Rushinga where the local Chief Makuni through IKS declared that the community will experience a good rain season.

Dr Makarau emphasised that IKS will not be used on their own but will accompany scientific forecasts.

Experts, however, implored MSD to interrogate the relationship between IKS and climate science.

The development comes at a time when MSD is appealing for more equipment as they have a shortage of rain gauges.