How effective is government intervention in climate information services in flood-prone areas? A case study of two villages in the Solomon Islands

Climate information services (CISs) are widely recognized as important tools for enhancing farmers’ climate resilience. However, their adoption among farmers remains low. Several interventions have been implemented to increase CIS uptake and support farmers’ decision-making. Nevertheless, previous studies have not explicitly examined how these interventions improve CIS adoption or influence farmers’ agricultural decisions. Furthermore, little attention has been paid to how these effects vary according to farmers’ vulnerability to climate change or their past exposure to climate-related physical damage. To address these research gaps, this study investigates the factors contributing to the low adoption of CISs and the implementation of climate-resilient farming practices. It also examines how these factors vary with farmers’ past exposure to flood damage. Using geospatial information system mapping, econometric analyses, and coding of semistructured interviews, this study finds that workshops have a significant mediating effect and that collaboration with government agencies exerts a moderating effect on crop diversification. Past exposure to flood damage shows significant differences and can overwhelm the moderating effect. Severe physical damage destroys communication towers, deprives farmers of farmland and the financial resources needed for climate-resilient farming, and undermines the credibility of CISs. These findings suggest that flood prevention measures play the primary role in flood-prone areas. Once these measures are in place, CISs can mitigate flood-related damages by aligning with farmers’ needs and ensuring timely delivery.