Planning for Adaptation: A System Approach to Understand the Value Chain's Role in Supporting Smallholder Coffee Farmers' Adaptive Capacity in Peru

Abstract

Coffee is a major global commodity whose production is sustained by and provides livelihoods for millions of smallholder families in the tropics. However, it is highly sensitive to climate change and the climate risk family farmer's face from direct impacts on coffee production are often compounded by further impacts on the physical and social landscapes and infrastructure. We examine the vulnerability (sensitivity and adaptive capacity) of smallholder coffee farmers in northeastern Peru via the lens of their central participation in a value chain that mediates access to livelihood assets, affecting their adaptive capacity and aspects of their sensitivity. Using a staged and participatory, mixed-methods approach, we sought to understand the territorial climate exposure, the structure of the regional value chain and role of different actors in supporting farmer adaptive capacity, and assess the vulnerability of the entire value chain (including other actors in addition to farmers). We found heterogeneity not only in the potential impact of climate change on coffee production, future adaptation needs and vulnerability of farmers across the territory (among elevational zones and regions), but in the distribution of vulnerability among value chain actors. Farmers are the most vulnerable actors, simultaneously the most sensitive and with the lowest adaptive capacity, issues stemming from their strong territorial dependence and pre-existing social and economic asymmetries with actors in the coffee value chain who are not as territorially dependent (e.g., private companies). We make the case that supporting the adaptation of smallholder farmers in the study region requires moving beyond a value-chain approach to a territorial systems perspective that more intentionally involves those actors with stronger, locally vested interests (e.g., local governments and institutions) in their adaptation and requires the strengthening capacities of these actors in various areas.

Elements for Re-Designing Sustainability Strategies with Groups of Small Coffee Producers

“…There are also examples of coffee organizations that are adopting a more business-oriented approach instead of empowering their members, which weakens their participation and may limit their effectiveness in capacity development and technology transfer. To achieve better territorial outcomes, it is necessary for agencies and partners to be innovative and allocate resources to both organized and unorganized farmers [46].…”

Análisis de la cadena de valor del café liofilizado a través de la metodología Delphi y propuestas competitivas

“…En el trabajo realizado por Morales et al (2022), denominado "Planificación para la adaptación: un enfoque sistémico para comprender el papel de la cadena de valor en el apoyo a la capacidad de adaptación de los pequeños productores de café en el Perú", se expone la vulnerabilidad de los pequeños productores que participan en la cadena de valor del café en la zona noreste del país, dados los cambios y riesgos climáticos que afectan la producción de este cultivo. Los investigadores, además, emplean métodos mixtos por etapas, y evalúan la distribución territorial actual y futura de la exposición al cambio climático; la adaptación y sensibilidad de la cadena de valor; la vulnerabilidad de los agricultores.…”