WELLINGTON, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Scientists from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) urged New Zealand farmers to plan for climate change so they can maximize their abilities to adapt and thrive as "significant change begins to take place."

Sam Dean, NIWA's chief scientist of climate, said on Wednesday that while farmers are known for their resilience and ability to adapt to changing conditions, climate change will "almost certainly go beyond any previous experience."

NIWA is focusing on assisting farmers to plan for a changing climate. Using highly detailed computer graphics, farmers will be able to find out what climate change might look like on their farm and explore the choices they face.

"I want people to be informed to make decisions based on good science," Dean said in a statement, adding that it is important to understand how much climate change is likely to affect New Zealand in the years ahead.

The scientist said that optimizing current farming practices is one of the most effective adaptation strategies, adding that farmers can expect climate change to affect a range of on-farm activities, including harvest times, crop choice, productivity, irrigation, groundwater recharge and pasture growth.

Extreme weather could also put strain on water resources or lead to flooding and damage to infrastructure, he said.