A method for evaluating climate change adaptation strategies for small-scale farmers using survey, experimental and modeled data

Claessens, L. and Antle, J. M. and Stoorvogel, J. J. and et al, . (2011) A method for evaluating climate change adaptation strategies for small-scale farmers using survey, experimental and modeled data. Agricultural Systems, 111. pp. 85-95.

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Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is predicted to experience considerable negative impacts of climate change. The IPCC Fourth Assessment emphasizes that adaptation strategies are essential. Addressing adaptation in the context of small-scale, semi-subsistence agriculture raises special challenges. High data demands including site-specific bio-physical and economic data are an important constraint. This paper applies a new approach to impact assessment, the Tradeoff Analysis model for Multi-Dimensional Impact Assessment (TOA-MD), which simulates technology adoption and associated economic, environmental and social outcomes in a heterogeneous farm population for a regional impact assessment. The methodology uses the kinds of survey, experimental and modeled data that are typically available in countries where semi-subsistence systems are important, combined with future socio-economic scenarios based on new scenario pathway concepts being developed by the climate change and impact assessment modeling communities. Characteristics of current and future agricultural systems, including land use, output, output price, cost of production, and farm and household size are analyzed and compared for both current and projected future climate (2030), with and without adaptation, and for different socio-economic scenarios. The methodology is applied to two study areas in Kenya. These case studies show the potential of this approach to provide a flexible, generic framework that can use available and modeled data to evaluate climate impact and adaptation strategies under a range of socio-economic scenarios.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: This research was conducted within the framework of a project funded by BMZ/GIZ on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. This study used data from the PROSAM and NUTMON projects, co-funded by the Ecoregional Fund to Support Methodological Initiatives of the Dutch government. Support from the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), and also the Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP), is acknowledged. We thank the editor and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Adaptation, Climate change, East Africa, Impact assessment, Socio-economic scenarios, TOA-MD model
Author Affiliation: International Potato Center (CIP), P.O. Box 25171, Nairobi, Kenya
Subjects: Atmosperic Science > Climatology
Divisions: General
Depositing User: Mr Siva Shankar
Date Deposited: 12 Jul 2012 08:51
Last Modified: 12 Jul 2012 08:52
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2012.05.003
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/6716

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