The Study of the Best Channels for Climate Communication in Agriculture in Mountainous Areas in Vietnam - Case Studies in Lai Chau and Dien Bien Province -

Severe impacts of climate change on agriculture have stimulated the launch of many solutions to cope with climate change in agriculture. Improving climate communication is one of the most effective and widely-developed solutions. In this study, the climate communication channels for agricultural production in Lai Chau and Dien Bien were examined by assessing the level of accessibility to climate services, application of climatic information in agricultural production, and effectiveness of communication channels. Results provide insights into the selection of appropriate channels for effective direct and indirect communication between climate service providers, farmers, and relevant stake holders. At present, village heads and television (VTV1 news) are the two most popular and trusted climate communication channels in Lai Chau and Dien Bien, followed by extension workers and women’s union. Village heads enable information dissemination of both scientific knowledge and indigenous knowledge for practical farming. However, existing communication channels are one-way implemented, lacking a response mechanism and responding from recipients back to service providers.