Does diversification in smallholder coffee landscapes help farmers to adapt to climate change? Answers from Nicaragua. [P-2224-26]
Introduction: The Central American coffee production area is predicted to reduce substantially under progressive climate change. The livelihoods of many smallholders in these landscapes are threatened because they largely depend on coffee production. Despite the growing emphasis on on-farm diversification to manage climate risks and improve food security in coffee landscapes, there are no criteria developed to quantify the status, need and outreach of diversification. Objectives: We identified with community representatives and other local stakeholders in two contrasting coffee zones in Nicaragua (dry and humid): 1) the role of onfarm diversification in farmer strategies in climate change adaptation; 2) different dimensions of on-farm diversification; and 3) the need for specific measures to make use of the potential of diversification. Methods: We carried out a literature review highlighting the different dimensions of diversification, and for each dimension, the benefits and drawbacks of diversification for smallholders of coffee landscapes. We consulted institutions and focal groups from ten communities in two contrasting coffee zones in Nicaragua about: 1) the vulnerability of their livelihoods to climate changes ; 2) existing and desirable strategies to adapt to these changes; 3) existing diversity in coffee farms; 4) what on-farm diversification would represent for them to be an effective way of adapting to climate change. Taken into account the gender issue, we conducted interviews in farm households to understand how actual diversification is related to climate risk management and food security status, and to identify specific needs to enable farmers making use of the potential for diversification. To embed our results in local development and research processes, our activities were linked to existing farmer initiatives and the local university agronomy faculty. In each coffee zone, phenological calendars for the principal crops were developed on the basis of the collected information to support farmers´ crop management under the existing climate variability. Preliminary results and discussion: Farmer families in both coffee zones indicated crop diversification among adaptation options that they prefer, particularly enrichment with fruit perennials like plantain, banana and citrus. These crops provide cash flow through the year and can be used also for own consumption to enrich the diets of farmer families. Though a large diversity of agricultural species is grown in the landscape, most on-farm activities are concentrated around coffee, maize and common beans and take place between May and August, which coincides with the months of seasonal hunger. This suggests a high potential for diversification which is currently little utilized to improve food security, generate income and to adapt production systems to climate variability. The literature review allows us to draw a first typology of complementarity and competition effects amongst crops. Some farmers have already enriched their coffee farms with fruit perennials and other crops. Because of their experience, they are key persons to share knowledge about benefits and risks of crop diversification with other farmers. At landscape level, farmers stressed the importance of sufficient tree cover to ensure key environmental services like water availability. Restoration and conservation activities at landscape level will require coordination among farmer s and governmental organizations.
Main Authors: | , , |
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Format: | conference_item biblioteca |
Language: | eng |
Published: |
CFCC15
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Subjects: | A01 - Agriculture - Considérations générales, E80 - Économie familiale et artisanale, P40 - Météorologie et climatologie, |
Online Access: | http://agritrop.cirad.fr/577049/ http://agritrop.cirad.fr/577049/1/ID577049.pdf |
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