Climate Change Adaptation Strategies of Smallholder Agroforestry Farmers in the Philippines

Abstract

This article argues that smallholder agroforestry farmers in the selected provinces in the Philippines have already been experiencing climate change in their respective areas as indicated by the change in the rainfall and temperature patterns. Using direct interviews and focus group discussions, the respondent-farmers highlighted that increased incidence of pests and diseases, stunted growth of crops, low crop productivity, delayed planting, delayed fruiting of some crops particularly perennial species, poor quality of produce, increased cost in farm operations, low income and decreased yield of some crops, are among the general impacts of climate change in their agricultural production systems. On the positive aspect, some crops had increased yield as an impact of climate change. The farmers employ their local knowledge and skills in adapting to the impacts of climate change. Among these include changing cropping patterns, integrating more crops in the farm, engaging in other off-farm and non-farm activities as additional source of income, changing the cultivated crops, mulching, and using organic fertilizers, among others. This article also highlights the benefits that the respondent-farmers derive from agroforestry, a land use management system that is currently being practiced in the study sites.

Field-Level Evidences of Climate Change and Coping Strategies of Smallholder Farmers in Molawin-Dampalit Sub-Watershed, Makiling Forest Reserve, Philippines

“…Results of this study are validated by other similar studies that were conducted in tropical and developing countries (Mutekwa 2009;Landicho et al 2010;Kalinda 2011). Visco et al (2011 highlighted that the smallholder farmers in the Philippines have been experiencing climate change as evidenced by the changing rainfall and temperature patterns over the years.…”

Adaptation to compound climate risks: A systematic global stocktake

“…Using the literature’s identification of qualitatively and quantitatively compounding events, the highest number of compounding hazards in the adaptation literature is associated with changes in rainfall. Notable climate hazards that compound with drought include extreme heat across the USA, Philippines, Nepal, Zimbabwe, and South Africa 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 ; mean precipitation decrease in Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Bangladesh; 76 , 77 , 78 pluvial flooding across Nepal, Uganda, Lao, and Vietnam; 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 and wildfire in the USA. 83 While 20 (38%) articles did describe the responses to spatially or temporally compound impacts or events, 33 (62%) articles did not refer explicitly to compound climate events and therefore did not fully acknowledge the compound nature of the climate events associated with the observed impacts.…”

“… 99 Temporally compounding vulnerabilities are described in the interactions over time among food insecurity, immobility, chronic health challenges, and migrant status for communities affected by extreme heat in Bukavu in DR Congo 115 and heat and drought in the Philippines. 74 …”

“…When linking the observed impacts documented in the articles to the IPCC AR6 Key Risks, compound climate events in the adaptation literature most commonly present severe risk to food security, 74 risk to health, 71 loss of livelihoods, 79 and decreased economic output. 101 In many cases Key Risks compound, for example, risk to food security commonly compounds with risk to livelihoods across smallholder farming communities.…”

Rainwater harvesting for enhancing upland agriculture: Lessons and experiences in selected upland farming communities in Albay Province, Philippines

“…Building from previous capacity building projects (Landicho et al, 2009), the project collaborators believed that farmers learn https://doi.org/10.30852/sb.2022.1757 form of spatial arrangements or temporal sequence on the same land to diversify and sustain production for increased social, economic and environmental benefits (Leakey, Temu, Melnyk, & Vantomme, 1996). A number of studies have shown that agroforestry offers potential in enhancing the socio-economic productivity of the farmers because of the diverse crop components (Landicho et al, 2016;Tolentino, Landicho, De Luna, & Cabahug, 2010;Cunningham, Nicholson, Yaou, & Rinaudo, 2008) while at the same time addresses the ecological dimension (Baliton et al, 2020;Palma & Carandang, 2014;Casas, Marin, Toledo-Bruno, Lacandula, & Aguinsatan, 2014).…”