Small-holder farmers in 12 countries were surveyed about changes made to their practices and the reasons for those changes. Weather information was found to be significantly associated with changes in 3 of the 4 regions surveyed. The reasons for changes varied across regions and included adopting improved varieties, adjusting timing, improving land management, and using more fertilizer. While most climate adaptation research has focused on temperate areas, the survey found major impacts in tropical locations as well. The document concludes that climate information is one factor among many that influence farmers' decisions to change practices and that local context is essential for developing effective climate adaptation and mitigation policies.
3. Baseline household survey from CCAFS
(Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security)
4000 households in 12 countries
(Wood et al., in review, Global Environmental Change)
4. Weather information is significantly associated with
change in 3 of 4 regions
Climate/weather is one among many reasons that
small-holder farmers report change in practices
(Wood et al., in review)
5. Reasons for change vary across regions
Types of change: Improved varieties, timing, land management, fertilizer
6. Most research on climate adaptation done in
temperate locations although major impacts in tropics
Author Institution country
1
2-4
5-10
10+
(Jain et al., in prep)
Study country
7. • Climate and weather information is one of many
reasons why farmers make changes. Local
context essential to formulate policies for
climate adaptation and mitigation.
• Research framework needs to include long term
outcomes and impacts of national/ international
policies
Notes de l'éditeur
Land management is at the nexus of climate mitigation and adaptiondecision makers on the landManagement – mitigation (reduced clearing, livestock, soil management, fertilizer) and adaptation optionWill focus on adaption (crop varieties, irrigation)How are people making decisions? What leverage points do policy-makers have to influence decisions?
Changes over last ten years – improved varieties, agricultural timing, land management, increased fertilizer
Main sources of information are radio and friends/relative/neighborsDifferent factors important in different places:Assets: Asset-rich farmers in West Africa reported more change than asset-poor. Opposite pattern in IndiaLocal institutions: farmers who participate in groups more likely to make changeInformation: More likely to change but sources varyWe do not know if changes result in positive outcomesLocal context important for broader-scale decisions