Harare — GLOBAL warming associated with climatic changes is always bad news for the Southern Africa region in general and Zimbabwe in particular.

Among the most worrying aspects of climate change are its effects on food security. We have had several catastrophic drought years in recent times, when much of the scarce foreign exchange available was used to import food.

Climate change is forcing crop and weather scientists to review their research agendas. Until now their main focus had been on improving crop yields. But with successive reports warning that increased droughts and floods will shift crop systems, "climate proofing" of crops has become crucial.

It is in this context that we welcome the planned meeting in Harare this week of regional weather experts to come up with a comprehensive plan of action ahead of the forthcoming summer season.

Indications so far point to the possibility of a drought this summer. South African weather reports recently warned that Southern Africa could experience a drought following predictions that El Nino was building up in the Pacific Ocean.

The tragic consequences of this freakish weather phenomenon are familiar to all who make it their business to study such unexpected turns of mood in Mother Nature.

An El Nino is an abnormal periodic warming of the ocean surface which is usually associated with erratic rainfall, particularly in early summer, while late summer is influenced mostly by conditions in the Indian and Atlantic oceans.

We are two months away from the onset of the summer cropping season which runs from October to March. Meteorologists should make available to all stakeholders the results of their forecast immediately after their meeting.

This will help farmers to plan with vital information at their fingertips. We have warned time and time again that changing weather patterns should teach farmers to take seriously calls from agricultural experts to seek relief in drought-resistant crops.

Every year towards the beginning of the rainy season, considerable human and capital efforts are expended in the growing of either maize or other cash crops such as cotton and tobacco.

Millions of dollars are invested in these crops, but little is said about small grains, always recommended by experts in such inclement weather conditions. If there is enough rain, farmers do not even think of growing the drought-resistant crops. It is only after the country has experienced acute rainfall shortages that they start talking of the small grains.

Since there are strong indications of a drought, we expect planning for much of the dry-prone areas to take into account the probability of below-normal rainfall. This means the right crops to plant will be the more drought-resistant variety. The Department of Meteorological Services should continue to share vital information with all stakeholders on the implications of this apparent change of weather conditions.

When there is a drought, there is not much that we, as a small country, can do except hope for the best. So we should adapt to the new and harsher environment. This means finding crop varieties that can cope with drought.

Farmers, seed houses and agricultural extension personnel should be prepared for an unfavourable season. Climate experts also need to help agricultural planners and advisors understand the probable implications of their predictions.

The only assurance of coping with a drought is careful preparation at the least possible cost. This is the time for farmers to be proactive and to mobilise funds for the purchase of inputs -- inputs that are suitable to their agro-ecological regions.

This will not be easy, particularly under the present harsh economic climate, but someone has to do it.