scholarly journals Climate change and its effects on farm workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-185
Author(s):  
Mastaneh Amini ◽  
Leila Ibrahimi Ghavamabadi ◽  
Hossinali Rangkooy ◽  
Behzad Fouladi Dehaghi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Vapor Pressure ◽  
Labor Productivity ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Farm Workers ◽  
Productivity Index ◽  
Khuzestan Province ◽  
Effective Factor ◽  
P Index

Background: One of the biggest global occupational threats, especially in the outdoor workplace, is climate change and global warming, as workers are exposed to the heat stress leading to reduced performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of workplace climate on labor productivity index in the agricultural sector. Methods: In this study, data related to environmental variables of 215 synoptic meteorological stations in Khuzestan province were collected from three climatic regions (hot, mild, and cold). Using MATLAB R 2018b mathematical software based on ASHRAE/ISO7730 standard values by designing some scenarios, predicted mean vote (PMV) index, and then, labor productivity index (P) were estimated. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 software. Results: The results showed that in the hot regions, there is a significant inverse relationship between P index and the main environmental variables (ta, tr, pa). In the cold regions, increasing the amount of ta and tr in light and medium workload improved the P index, but for heavy workload, it reduced productivity, and the most effective factor was increasing air vapor pressure. In the mild regions, the most effective factor in productivity was air vapor pressure. In addition, the results of Spearman’s correlation coefficient showed that PMV index has a direct and significant relationship with P index. Conclusion: Regarding the increasing trend of climate change and its effect on the desired thermal comfort and productivity, well structure and planning is needed to manage farm workers health.

scholarly journals Ecophysiological Vulnerability to Climate Change in Mexico City’s Urban Forest

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor L. Barradas ◽  
Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Stomatal Conductance ◽  
Vapor Pressure ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Vapor Pressure Deficit ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Urban Climate ◽  
Vulnerability To Climate Change

Urban forests play an important role in regulating urban climate while providing multiple environmental services. These forests, however, are threatened by changes in climate, as plants are exposed not only to global climate change but also to urban climate, having an impact on physiological functions. Here, we selected two physiological variables (stomatal conductance and leaf water potential) and four environmental variables (air temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, vapor pressure deficit, and water availability) to compare and evaluate the ecophysiological vulnerability to climate change of 15 dominant tree species from Mexico City’s urban forest. The stomatal conductance response was evaluated using the boundary-line analysis, which allowed us to compare the stomatal response to changes in the environment among species. Our results showed differential species responses to the environmental variables and identified Buddleja cordata and Populus deltoides as the least and most vulnerable species, respectively. Air temperatures above 33°C and vapor pressure deficit above 3.5 kPa limited the stomatal function of all species. Stomatal conductance was more sensitive to changes in leaf water potential, followed by vapor pressure deficit, indicating that water is a key factor for tree species performance in Mexico City’s urban forest. Our findings can help to optimize species selection considering future climate change by identifying vulnerable and resilient species.

DISSEMINATION AND USE OF INFORMATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY: A CASE STUDY OF FARMERS IN MALUGA AND CHIBELA VILLAGES IN SEMI-ARID CENTRAL TANZANIA

Mousaion ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Elia ◽  
Stephen Mutula ◽  
Christine Stilwell
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovations ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change And Variability ◽  
Semi Arid

This study was part of broader PhD research which investigated how access to, and use of, information enhances adaptation to climate change and variability in the agricultural sector in semi-arid Central Tanzania. The research was carried out in two villages using Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations theory and model to assess the dissemination of this information and its use by farmers in their adaptation of their farming practices to climate change and variability. This predominantly qualitative study employed a post-positivist paradigm. Some elements of a quantitative approach were also deployed in the data collection and analysis. The principal data collection methods were interviews and focus group discussions. The study population comprised farmers, agricultural extension officers and the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa project manager. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis whereas quantitative data were analysed to generate mostly descriptive statistics using SPSS.  Key findings of the study show that farmers perceive a problem in the dissemination and use of climate information for agricultural development. They found access to agricultural inputs to be expensive, unreliable and untimely. To mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and variability on farming effectively, the study recommends the repackaging of current and accurate information on climate change and variability, farmer education and training, and collaboration between researchers, meteorology experts, and extension officers and farmers. Moreover, a clear policy framework for disseminating information related to climate change and variability is required.

The Prosperity Paradox

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Martin
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Farm Workers ◽  
Farm Labor ◽  
Labor Laws ◽  
New Era ◽  
Labor Policies ◽  
The Us ◽  
Vulnerable Workers

Why do farm workers become more vulnerable as countries get richer? As countries get richer, the share of workers employed in agriculture falls. In richer countries, hired farm workers do ever more of the work on the fewer and larger farms that produce most farm commodities. These hired workers include local workers who lack the skills and contacts needed to get nonfarm jobs that usually offer higher wages and more opportunities as well as legal and unauthorized migrants from poorer countries who may not know or exercise their labor-related rights. Government enforcement of labor laws depends on complaints, and vulnerable workers rarely complain. The Prosperity Paradox explains why farm-worker problems often worsen as the agricultural sector shrinks and lays out options to help vulnerable workers. Analysis of farm labor markets in the US, Mexico, and other countries shows that unions and fair trade efforts to protect farm workers cover a very small share of all workers and are unlikely to expand quickly. Most labor-intensive fruits and vegetables are eaten fresh. Unsafe food that sickened consumers led to voluntary industry and later government-mandated food-safety programs to ensure that food is safe when it leaves the farm, with protocols enforced by both government inspectors and buyers who refused to buy from noncompliant farms. This food-safety model offers the most promise for a new era in protective labor policies.

scholarly journals Mapping current and potential future distributions of the oak tree (Quercus aegilops) in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabaz R. Khwarahm
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Climate Changes ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Annual Precipitation ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Kurdistan Region ◽  
Oak Tree

Abstract Background The oak tree (Quercus aegilops) comprises ~ 70% of the oak forests in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Besides its ecological importance as the residence for various endemic and migratory species, Q. aegilops forest also has socio-economic values—for example, as fodder for livestock, building material, medicine, charcoal, and firewood. In the KRI, Q. aegilops has been degrading due to anthropogenic threats (e.g., shifting cultivation, land use/land cover changes, civil war, and inadequate forest management policy) and these threats could increase as climate changes. In the KRI and Iraq as a whole, information on current and potential future geographical distributions of Q. aegilops is minimal or not existent. The objectives of this study were to (i) predict the current and future habitat suitability distributions of the species in relation to environmental variables and future climate change scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6 2070 and RCP8.5 2070); and (ii) determine the most important environmental variables controlling the distribution of the species in the KRI. The objectives were achieved by using the MaxEnt (maximum entropy) algorithm, available records of Q. aegilops, and environmental variables. Results The model demonstrated that, under the RCP2.6 2070 and RCP8.5 2070 climate change scenarios, the distribution ranges of Q. aegilops would be reduced by 3.6% (1849.7 km2) and 3.16% (1627.1 km2), respectively. By contrast, the species ranges would expand by 1.5% (777.0 km2) and 1.7% (848.0 km2), respectively. The distribution of the species was mainly controlled by annual precipitation. Under future climate change scenarios, the centroid of the distribution would shift toward higher altitudes. Conclusions The results suggest (i) a significant suitable habitat range of the species will be lost in the KRI due to climate change by 2070 and (ii) the preference of the species for cooler areas (high altitude) with high annual precipitation. Conservation actions should focus on the mountainous areas (e.g., by establishment of national parks and protected areas) of the KRI as climate changes. These findings provide useful benchmarking guidance for the future investigation of the ecology of the oak forest, and the categorical current and potential habitat suitability maps can effectively be used to improve biodiversity conservation plans and management actions in the KRI and Iraq as a whole.

scholarly journals Calcium and Potassium Nutrition Increases the Water Use Efficiency in Coffee: A Promising Strategy to Adapt to Climate Change

Hydrology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Victor Hugo Ramírez-Builes ◽  
Jürgen Küsters
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Variability ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Coffee Production ◽  
Use Efficiency

Coffee (Coffea spp.) represents one of the most important sources of income and goods for the agricultural sector in Central America, Colombia, and the Caribbean region. The sustainability of coffee production at the global and regional scale is under threat by climate change, with a major risk of losing near to 50% of today’s suitable area for coffee by 2050. Rain-fed coffee production dominates in the region, and under increasing climate variability and climate change impacts, these production areas are under threat due to air temperature increase and changes in rainfall patterns and volumes. Identification, evaluation, and implementation of adaptation strategies for growers to cope with climate variability and change impacts are relevant and high priority. Incremental adaptation strategies, including proper soil and water management, contribute to improved water use efficiency (WUE) and should be the first line of action to adapt the coffee crop to the changing growing conditions. This research’s objective was to evaluate at field level over five years the influence of fertilization with calcium (Ca+2) and potassium (K+) on WUE in two coffee arabica varieties: cv. Castillo and cv. Caturra. Castillo has resistance against coffee leaf rust (CLR) (Hemileia vastatrix Verkeley and Brome), while Caturra is not CLR-resistant. WUE was influenced by yield changes during the years by climate variability due to El Niño–ENSO conditions and CLR incidence. Application of Ca+2 and K+ improved the WUE under such variable conditions. The highest WUE values were obtained with an application of 100 kg CaO ha−1 year−1 and between 180 to 230 kg K2O ha−1 year−1. The results indicate that adequate nutrition with Ca+2 and K+ can improve WUE in the long-term, even underwater deficit conditions and after the substantial incidence. Hence, an optimum application of Ca+2 and K+ in rain-fed coffee plantations can be regarded as an effective strategy to adapt to climate variability and climate change.

A new author’s productivity index: p-index

2010 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Assimakis ◽  
M. Adam
Keyword(s):  
Productivity Index ◽  
P Index

scholarly journals Attitude Changes of Stakeholders towards Climate Change Adaptation Policies in Agricultural Sector by Online Deliberation

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Kenshi Baba ◽  
Eri Amanuma ◽  
Motoko Kosugi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Online Deliberation ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Adaptation Policies ◽  
Attitude Changes

This study set up online virtual communities consisting of farmers and stakeholders involved in agriculture and nonfarmers living in rural areas interested in agricultural production. We conducted a deliberation within the communities for 14 days on identifying important climate change adaptation policies for 30 years later under climate change impacts with the relevant knowledge from experts. During the deliberation, after self-introduction took place including the realization of climate change impacts, the participants were provided with the expert knowledge on impacts of climate change, adaptation policies in agricultural sector and so on, then the following discussions covered issues such as the distribution of agricultural produce, insufficient successors, and support for farmers, such as impacts on crops during disasters concerning future scenarios. Attitude changes before and after deliberation were observed in terms of the pros and cons of climate change adaptation policies in agriculture and rural areas, but statistically significant differences were not observed. On the other hand, a statistically significant change was observed in some determinants of the pros and cons, such as the perceived effectiveness and goal intention. This structural change results from that the participants became aware of a different perspective through deliberation. Thus, the online deliberation process was effective to some extent in increasing knowledge and promoting deeper understanding among participants during inquiry and reasoning was deepened in the process as they listened to the opinions of others in a different position with a different idea as well as read and search for scientific findings and information provided by experts.

scholarly journals Climate Change Trends and Impacts on California Agriculture: A Detailed Review

Agronomy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tapan Pathak ◽  
Mahesh Maskey ◽  
Jeffery Dahlberg ◽  
Faith Kearns ◽  
Khaled Bali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Sufficient Evidence ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Detailed Review ◽  
California Agriculture

California is a global leader in the agricultural sector and produces more than 400 types of commodities. The state produces over a third of the country’s vegetables and two-thirds of its fruits and nuts. Despite being highly productive, current and future climate change poses many challenges to the agricultural sector. This paper provides a summary of the current state of knowledge on historical and future trends in climate and their impacts on California agriculture. We present a synthesis of climate change impacts on California agriculture in the context of: (1) historic trends and projected changes in temperature, precipitation, snowpack, heat waves, drought, and flood events; and (2) consequent impacts on crop yields, chill hours, pests and diseases, and agricultural vulnerability to climate risks. Finally, we highlight important findings and directions for future research and implementation. The detailed review presented in this paper provides sufficient evidence that the climate in California has changed significantly and is expected to continue changing in the future, and justifies the urgency and importance of enhancing the adaptive capacity of agriculture and reducing vulnerability to climate change. Since agriculture in California is very diverse and each crop responds to climate differently, climate adaptation research should be locally focused along with effective stakeholder engagement and systematic outreach efforts for effective adoption and implementation. The expected readership of this paper includes local stakeholders, researchers, state and national agencies, and international communities interested in learning about climate change and California’s agriculture.

scholarly journals Water Quality Threats, Perceptions of Climate Change and Behavioral Responses among Farmers in the Ethiopian Rift Valley

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Tewodros R. Godebo ◽  
Marc A. Jeuland ◽  
Christopher J. Paul ◽  
Dagnachew L. Belachew ◽  
Peter G. McCornick
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Irrigated Agriculture ◽  
Ethiopian Rift ◽  
Adaptation Mechanism ◽  
Main Ethiopian Rift

This work aims to assess water quality for irrigated agriculture, alongside perceptions and adaptations of farmers to climate change in the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER). Climate change is expected to cause a rise in temperature and variability in rainfall in the region, reducing surface water availability and raising dependence on groundwater. The study data come from surveys with 147 farmers living in the Ziway–Shala basin and water quality assessments of 162 samples from groundwater wells and surface water. Most groundwater samples were found to be unsuitable for long term agricultural use due to their high salinity and sodium adsorption ratio, which has implications for soil permeability, as well as elevated bicarbonate, boron and residual sodium carbonate concentrations. The survey data indicate that water sufficiency is a major concern for farmers that leads to frequent crop failures, especially due to erratic and insufficient rainfall. An important adaptation mechanism for farmers is the use of improved crop varieties, but major barriers to adaptation include a lack of access to irrigation water, credit or savings, appropriate seeds, and knowledge or information on weather and climate conditions. Local (development) agents are identified as vital to enhancing farmers’ knowledge of risks and solutions, and extension programs must therefore continue to promote resilience and adaptation in the area. Unfortunately, much of the MER groundwater that could be used to cope with declining viability of rainfed agriculture and surface water availability, is poor in quality. The use of saline groundwater could jeopardize the agricultural sector, and most notably commercial horticulture and floriculture activities. This study highlights the complex nexus of water quality and sufficiency challenges facing the agriculture sector in the region, and should help decision-makers to design feasible strategies for enhancing adaptation and food security.

Climate Change Impacts on Agriculture in Latin America and the Caribbean: An Application of the Integrated Economic-Environmental Modeling (IEEM) Platform

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Onil Banerjee ◽  
Martin Cicowiez ◽  
Ana Rios ◽  
Cicero De Lima
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Labor Productivity ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Environmental Modeling ◽  
Sectoral Output ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Agricultural Yields

In this paper, we assess the economy-wide impact of Climate Change (CC) on agriculture and food security in 20 Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) countries. Specifically, we focus on the following three channels through which CC may affect agricultural and non-agricultural production: (i) agricultural yields; (ii) labor productivity in agriculture, and; (iii) economy-wide labor productivity. We implement the analysis using the Integrated Economic-Environmental Model (IEEM) and databases for 20 LAC available through the OPEN IEEM Platform. Our analysis identifies those countries most affected according to key indicators including Gross Domestic Product (GDP), international commerce, sectoral output, poverty, and emissions. Most countries experience negative impacts on GDP, with the exception of the major soybean producing countries, namely, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. We find that CC-induced crop productivity and labor productivity changes affect countries differently. The combined impact, however, indicates that Belize, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Paraguay would fare the worst. Early identification of these hardest hit countries can enable policy makers pre-empting these effects and beginning the design of adaptation strategies early on. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, only Argentina, Chile and Uruguay would experience small increases in emissions.

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