The CM Box (Crop Monitoring Box) consists of tools for forecasting crop yield on the basis of previous yields and their statistical relation to meteorological conditions during the growing season. Actual meteorological conditions during the season are used as forecast variables for this exercise. Trainees learn to customize the CM Box to national conditions and perform crop regular forecasts.

FAO headquarters and national workshops

Trainees are professionals from the statistics and meteorological departments of national ministries. At least one statistician and one meteorologist per country will work together.

Countries involved in this training under the EC-FAO Food Security Programme include Cambodia, Laos , Malawi , DR Congo, Ethiopia, Armenia and Tajikistan.

During the training, the CM box is customized to national conditions - accounting for administrative units and available data. Training objectives include:
- the customized version of the CM Box will be adapted to national conditions;
- trainees will gain experience in handling the CM Box;
- national food security analysts and meteorologists will understand each other better and collaborate regularly; and
- national crop forecasts can be performed regularly and routinely.