Farmer Health and Adaptive Capacity in the Face of Climate Change and Variability. Part 2: Contexts, Personal Attributes and Behaviors

Abstract Background: Climate change and variability has been significantly affecting the Ethiopian agricultural production and thereby smallholder farmers livelihoods. The level of vulnerability varied across agro-ecological zones (AEZs). Identification of difference in the level of vulnerability of a system is important in selecting appropriate and effective adaption options to climate change. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the level of vulnerability of agricultural communities to climate change and variability at micro-scale level in five agro-ecological zones (AEZs) of south Wollo, north east highlands of Ethiopia. Data was collected from a representative of 502 sample households from five AEZs through multi stage random sampling methods. Focus group discussion and key informant interviews were also carried out to supplement and substantiate the quantitative data. The indicator based approach was used to empirically calculate vulnerability. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to give weight for indicators and generate index of vulnerability contributing factors. Results: The results showed that each of the vulnerability contributing factors (exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity) varied across the AEZs. M3, SM2 and SM3 are the most exposed AEZs but having a relatively better adaptive capacity whereas M1, M2 and M3 are the most sensitive AEZs with relatively low adaptive capacity to climate variability and change. Overall, SM2 is the most vulnerable AEZ which exhibited high sensitivity and low adaptive capacity followed by M1. Conclusions: The study explored sources and levels of vulnerability to each agro-ecology. Since the study is conducted at micro-scale level, it helps decision makers and development partners to have context-specific understanding of the impact of climate change and variability and design appropriate adaptation measures to address the specific situations.

Download Full-text

Multi-dimensional coping and adaptation strategies of small-scale fishing communities of Bangladesh to climate change induced stressors

International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management ◽

10.1108/ijccsm-06-2016-0078 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 446-468 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Apurba Krishna Deb ◽

C. Emdad Haque

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

International Development ◽

Field Research ◽

Adaptation Strategies ◽

Fishing Communities ◽

Small Scale ◽

Content Type ◽

Fishing Villages ◽

Climate Change And Variability ◽

The Face

Purpose Coastal and floodplain areas are on the frontline of climate change in Bangladesh. Small-scale coastal and floodplain fishing communities of the country face a host of cross-scale stressors continually, some induced by climate change, and they have developed coping and adaption strategies based on customary social and experiential learnings. This paper aims to examine the coping and adaptation strategies that small-scale fishing communities undertake in the face of stresses including climate change and variability. Design/methodology/approach This research takes a nuanced ethnographic-oriented approach based on around two-year-long field study in two coastal and floodplain fishing villages, represented by two distinct ethnic groups. The study adopts direct observational methods to denote the ways small-scale fishing communities address the arrays of stressors to construct and reconstruct their survival and livelihood needs. Findings It was observed that fishers’ coping and adaptation strategies comprise a fluid combination of complex overlapping sets of actions that the households undertake based on their capitals and capabilities, perceptions, socio-cultural embeddedness and experiential learnings from earlier adverse situations. Broadly, these are survival, economic, physiological, social, institutional and religiosity-psychological in nature. Adaptation mechanisms involve some implicit principles or self-provisioning actions that households are compelled to do or choose under given sets of abnormal stresses to reach certain levels of livelihood functions. Originality/value Based on empirical field research, this paper recognizes small-scale fishers’ capability and adaptability in addressing climate change-induced stresses. Policymakers, international development planners, climate scientists and social workers can learn from these grassroots-level coping and adaptation strategies of fishing communities to minimize the adverse effects of climate change and variations.

Download Full-text

A gendered approach to understanding climate change impacts: lessons from a coastal region of Bangladesh.

Gender, climate change and livelihoods: vulnerabilities and adaptations ◽

10.1079/9781789247053.0002 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 11-25

Author(s):

S. Momtaz ◽

M. Asaduzzaman ◽

Z. Kabir

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Focus Group ◽

Adaptive Capacity ◽

Coastal Region ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Household Surveys ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Key Informant ◽

The Face

Abstract The purpose of this chapter is to understand the vulnerability of women's livelihoods to climate change impacts in Bangladesh. Data were collected through a survey of 150 randomly selected women from a sample of households. Focus group discussions, key informant interviews, participant observations, and a transect walk, provided supporting information to substantiate the household surveys. The chapter first outlines the theoretical foundation on which the research is based. This is followed by examining women's vulnerability in the study area. The chapter then describes women's coping strategies in the face of climate change-induced disasters. The chapter further explores women's adaptive capacity through the examination of their access to various services. It ends with a set of recommendations for policy makers in order to improve the situation of women's vulnerability.

Download Full-text

Adaptive Capacity Mapping of Semarang Offshore Territory by the Increasing of Water Level and Climate Change

Forum Geografi ◽

10.23917/forgeo.v27i1.5084 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 81

Author(s):

Ifan Ridlo Suhelm

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Sea Level Rise ◽

Adaptive Capacity ◽

Sea Level ◽

Land Subsidence ◽

Educational Background ◽

Intergovernmental Panel ◽

Two Factors ◽

The Face ◽

The Village

Tidal inundation, flood and land subsidence are the problems faced by Semarang city related to climate change. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted the increase of sea level rise 18-59 cm during 1990-2100 while the temperature increase 0,6°C to 4°C during the same period. The Semarang coastal city was highly vulnerable to sea level rise and it increased with two factors, topography and land subsidence. The purpose of this study was to map the adaptive capacity of coastal areas in the face of the threat of disasters caused by climate change. The parameters used are Network Number, Employee based educational background, Source Main Livelihoods, Health Facilities, and Infrastructure Road. Adaptive capacity of regions classified into 3 (three) classes, namely low, medium and high. The results of the study showed that most of the coastal area of Semarang have adaptive capacities ranging from low to moderate, while the village with low capacity totaling 58 villages (58.62%) of the total coastal district in the city of Semarang.

Download Full-text

Smallholder Farmers’ Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change and Variability in Zimbabwe

The Sustainability Ethic in the Management of the Physical, Infrastructural and Natural Resources of Zimbabwe ◽

10.2307/j.ctvmd84s6.17 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 301-320

Author(s):

Hedwig Muronzi ◽

Liaison Mukarwi

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Adaptive Capacity ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Climate Change And Variability

Download Full-text

The Co-construction Approach as Approach to Developing Adaptation Strategies in the Face of Climate Change and Variability: A Conceptual Framework

Agricultural Research ◽

10.1007/s40003-016-0208-8 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 162-173 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Cherine Akkari ◽

Christopher Robin Bryant

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Conceptual Framework ◽

Adaptation Strategies ◽

Climate Change And Variability ◽

The Face

Download Full-text

Community Resilience and Adaptive Capacity: An Integrative Perspective

International Journal of Community Resilience ◽

10.51595/11111162 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

AGBO Chukwuemeka Ogugua

Keyword(s):

Adaptive Capacity ◽

Local Community ◽

Community Resilience ◽

Personal Attributes ◽

Holistic View ◽

Related Research ◽

Community Adaptation ◽

Secondary Sources ◽

Community Residents ◽

The Face

The aim of this paper is to examine the adaptive capacity for community resilience. Adaptive capacity supports the residents of a local community to survive and recover during and after a disaster. The holistic view of community resilience is seen as personal attributes possessed by community residents which enables them to survive during and after a disaster. Reviewed articles and other secondary sources that discussed on the topic of community resilience and adaptive capacity were used for this study through content analysis and empirical evidence. The discussion of the theories in this paper shed more light towards understanding the four-way adaptive capacity. Community resilience increases the chance of community adaptation during and after a disaster. This study will encourage private businesses and professional individuals to become part of a community by providing them with resources needed to survive in the face or after a disaster. It will also contribute to related research in the future which focuses on adaptive capacity for community resilience.

Download Full-text

Livestock Farmer Demography and Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change and Variability in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Province of South Africa

Technium Social Sciences Journal ◽

10.47577/tssj.v27i1.5297 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 27 ◽

pp. 870-898

Author(s):

Khathutshelo A. Tshikolomo ◽

Azwihangwisi E. Nesamvuni ◽

Marema Petja ◽

Johan Van Niekerk ◽

Ndivhudza S. Mpandeli

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

South Africa ◽

Adaptive Capacity ◽

Economic Status ◽

High Capacity ◽

Livestock Farming ◽

Mpumalanga Province ◽

Climate Change And Variability ◽

Livestock Farmers ◽

Almost All

The study investigated the demographic characteristics of smallholder livestock farmers in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Province of South Africa and their effect on the capacity of the farmers to adapt to climate change and variability. Respondents were mainly heads (58.7%) and parents (25.7%) to heads of households and were mostly male (63.4%) with good health (97.8%) associated with high adaptive capacity to climate change and variability. Regarding socio-economic status, four in five (81.5%) of the livestock farmers had only secondary education at most, and incomes were generally low, probably associated with low capacity to adapt to climate change and variability. On the contrary, the quality of housing for the livestock farmers was either top (48.5% of farmers) or medium (47.4%). Some 45.9% of farmers owned 4 to 5 rooms, 44.5% owned six or more rooms, with 88.5% of them having financed their houses. Almost all the respondents (97.3%) had access to electricity, and these suggest the high capacity to adapt to climate change and variability. With regards to aspects of livestock farming, one male (40.1% of households) and female (39.3%) member was fit to work in farming, livestock was owned by heads (52.9% of the households) and by children (29.0%), affirming the high capacity to adapt to climate change and variability. Almost all respondents (99.2%) used communal land, had fewer livestock, lacked training (99.5%), never belonged to a farmers’ union (99.7%) or a producer organization (100.0%), and had no access to financial support from the government (99.2%) associated with low adaptive capacity. The findings of the study revealed that demographic factors had different influences on the capacity of smallholder livestock farmers to adapt to adverse effects of climate change and variability on the farming enterprises. This was true for all the three types of demographic factors studied, namely: personal characteristics, economic status, and aspects of livestock farming.

Download Full-text

Assessing Resilience to Climate Change in US Cities

Urban Studies Research ◽

10.1155/2012/458172 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Casilda Saavedra ◽

William W. Budd ◽

Nicholas P. Lovrich

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Adaptive Capacity ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Local Planning ◽

Urban Resilience ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation ◽

Social Features ◽

The Face ◽

Us Cities ◽

Mitigation And Adaptation Strategies

In the face of uncertainties associated with climate change, building adaptive capacity and resilience at the community level emerges as an essential and timely element of local planning. However, key social factors that facilitate the effective building and maintenance of urban resilience are poorly understood. Two groups of US cities differing markedly in their commitment to climate change are contrasted with respect to their planning approaches and actions related to mitigation and adaptation strategies, and also in relation to social features that are believed to enhance adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change. The first group manifests a strong commitment to climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the second group has demonstrated little or no such commitment. These cities are compared with respect to several noteworthy social features, including level of social capital, degree of unconventional thought, and level of cultural diversity. These characteristics are postulated to contribute to the adaptive capacity of communities for dealing with the impacts of climate change. The aim is to determine to what extent there is a relationship between social/cultural structures and urban commitment and planning for climate change that could discriminate between climate change resilient and nonresilient urban areas.

Download Full-text