May 2012: EMBARGOED FOR CAW13
Since joining the SALI project, husband and wife team Truphena and Justin Ireri say they understand better how climate change is affecting their farming, and how best to cope. Having lived through years of painful food shortages due to drought and erratic rainfall, Truphena is certain the SMS messages will help them not only cope but to see a return to successful crop. ‘I expect that when we turn to scientific ways the farmers will be able to plan very well in their farming operations’ she says, explaining that farmers can no longer rely on traditional methods of forecasting. As part of 2,000 farmers involved, Truphena and Justin were selected to join the SALI project as one of ten farming families from their church congregation, and their strength of faith has carried them through extraordinary hardship.
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