International Science Community Association International Research Journal of Environmental Sciences 2319-1414 8 4 2019 10 22 Indigenous methods used in rainfall forecasting, the case study of communities in ward 18 of Fort Rixon, Zimbabwe 52 60 EN Henri Kpèdékpo AKOGBETO 1 International Chair in Mathematical Physics and Applications (ICMPA), Faculty of Sciences and Technologies (FAST), University Abomey-Calavi, 072 P.O.Box 50, Cotonou, Benin and Unité de Recherche sur les Zones Humides, Département de Zoologie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d′Abomey-Calavi, 01BP526 Cotonou, Bénin Emile Didier FIOGBE 2 Unité de Recherche sur les Zones Humides, Département de Zoologie, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d′Abomey-Calavi, 01BP526 Cotonou, Bénin N.N. Punchihewa 1 Department of Zoology, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka E.M.D Tharangani 2 Department of Zoology, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka Nandagopal P. 1 Department of Environmental Science, Bangalore University, Jnanabharathi Campus, Bengaluru-560056, India Harish R. Bhat 2 Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru-560012, India Shakya Sudarshana 1 Department of Botany, Bhaktapur Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Bhaktapur, Nepal Yadav Pramod Kumar 2 Department of Chemistry, Thakur Ram Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Birgunj, Nepal Pant Dipesh Raj 3 Department of Environment Science, Tri-chandra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvn University, Kathmandu, Nepal Shakya Ramesh Kaji 4 Department of Zoology, Padma Kanya Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal Shrestha Mahesh 5 Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Padma Kanya Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal Pradhananga Achut Ram 6 Department of Chemistry, Padma Kanya Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal Shrestha Prem Kumar 7 Department of Chemistry, Padma Kanya Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal Shakya Pawan Raj 8 Department of Chemistry, Padma Kanya Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal Khin Myint Mar 1 Department of Zoology, University of Magway, Myanmar Thin Thin Khaing 2 Department of Zoology, University of Magway, Myanmar Ma Win 3 Department of Zoology, University of Magway, Myanmar Joshi Anushri 1 Department of Geography, Shri Haridas Kalidas Arts College, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad, Gujarat-380009, India Desai Ajay 2 Mehsana Urban Institute of Sciences, Ganpat University, Ganpat Vidhyanagar, Mehsana, Gujarat-384012, India Mehta Kavit 3 Mehsana Urban Institute of Sciences, Ganpat University, Ganpat Vidhyanagar, Mehsana, Gujarat-384012, India Bhatt Keyur2 4 Mehsana Urban Institute of Sciences, Ganpat University, Ganpat Vidhyanagar, Mehsana, Gujarat-384012, India Jain B.K. 5 M.G. Science Institute, Navarangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat-380009, India Elizabeth Wangui Muoria 1 Department of Environmental Science, Egerton University. P.O. Box 536 Egerton Njoro, Kenya Wilkister Nyaora Moturi 2 Department of Environmental Science, Egerton University. P.O. Box 536 Egerton Njoro, Kenya George Were Eshiamwata 3 Natural Sciences, Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, P.O. Box 72017-00200, Nairobi, Kenya Noel Dube 1 Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Zimbabwe Open University. Box 346, Gwanda, Zimbabwe > Case Study 2019 2 14 2019 10 22 The aim of the study was to determine the different indigenous methods used to forecast rainfall and then rank the different forecasting methods. The acceptability of the forecasting methods by the different age groups in the community was also assessed. A random sample of 42 households out of a population of 410 households in Ward 18 of Fort Rixon was done and family members were interviewed using an interview guide. Youths and elders were also engaged in focus group discussions. Observation of fruit trees used to predict rainfall amounts was also done. The major indicators for the onset of rains are the direction of the winds, flowering of certain plants, movement of migratory birds, and behavior of insects. The prediction of the amount of rainfall is based on the amount of fruits produced by different fruit trees, the amount of butterflies and their direction of flight, and the amount and intensity of whirlwinds. The majority of the community 70% rely on the traditional methods of forecasting rainfall, 25% rely on both and 5% rely more on the meteorological department forecasts. There was no relationship between age and the method of forecasting used. The majority of Fort Rixon community members rely on traditional methods of forecasting to plan for their agricultural activities. Copyright@ International Science Community Association