Climate change poses a significant threat to the fisheries and aquaculture sector, particularly in developing countries like Zambia, where small-scale fish farmers face economic losses due to disrupted value chains, limited access to climate information, and weak adaptation capacities. Introducing digital climate information services (CIS) offers a critical solution by providing localized climate data and tailored advisories to enhance climate-informed decision-making and promote effective climate risk management among vulnerable small-scale fish-farmers. As part of the effort to develop a digital CIS for aquaculture, a survey with a sample of 300 smallholder fish farmers across three districts in Luapula province—Mansa, Kawambwa, and Samfya—located along Lake Bangweulu in Zambia was conducted to gather relevant information for creating a platform to mitigate climate risks in the aquaculture sector. The study aimed to assess the effects of climate change and weather variations on fish production among small-scale fish farmers in Zambia, evaluate the current status of climate change adaptation practices, examine the utilization of CIS, and identify preferences for weather information and communication mediums. Respondents were randomly chosen using registers from local authorities, ensuring representativeness across stakeholder strata.
The findings revealed that 74.8% of the respondents faced challenges due to changing weather patterns, with high temperatures and reduced rainfall being the most common issues. A statistically significant difference (P<0.05) was found between education levels and the challenges experienced from weather changes. There was also a significant relationship between the weather-affected fish production process and access to fisheries training, except for pond preparation, fingerling collection, and harvesting (P>0.05). Only 37.7% of respondents reported using weather information in their farming practices, primarily information related to low temperatures and heavy rainfall. Most of this information was accessed via radio, as financial constraints limited access to digital platforms such as social media or television. In terms of weather information preferences, most respondents desired updates on the onset of rains, critical temperatures, and heavy rainfall, with a preference for weekly updates. SMS messages in local languages were the preferred medium for receiving weather information, especially for pond preparation activities. The research also derived key actions taken by farmers based on specific weather information to minimize the risks posed by weather variations, information critical for the development of a framework according to changes in weather variables. The study recommends large scale capacity-building initiatives to ensure the readiness of small-scale fish farmers in using CIS effectively for managing climate risks in the SADC region.