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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
agricultural and biological sciences
Extreme vulnerability of smallholder farmers to agricultural risks and climate change in Madagascar
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Volume 369, No. 1639, Year 2014
Notification
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Description
Across the tropics, smallholder farmers already face numerous risks to agricultural production. Climate change is expected to disproportionately affect smallholder farmers and make their livelihoods even more precarious; however, there is limited information on their overall vulnerability and adaptation needs. We conducted surveys of 600 households in Madagascar to characterize the vulnerability of smallholder farmers, identify how farmers cope with risks and explore what strategies are needed to help them adapt to climate change. Malagasy farmers are particularly vulnerable to any shocks to their agricultural system owing to their high dependence on agriculture for their livelihoods, chronic food insecurity, physical isolation and lack of access to formal safety nets. Farmers are frequently exposed to pest and disease outbreaks and extreme weather events (particularly cyclones), which cause significant crop and income losses and exacerbate food insecurity. Although farmers use a variety of risk-coping strategies, these are insufficient to prevent them from remaining food insecure. Few farmers have adjusted their farming strategies in response to climate change, owing to limited resources and capacity. Urgent technical, financial and institutional support is needed to improve the agricultural production and food security of Malagasy farmers and make their livelihoods resilient to climate change. © 2014 The Author(s).
Authors & Co-Authors
Harvey, Célia Alice
United States, Arlington
Conservation International
Rakotobe, Zo Lalaina
Madagascar, Antananarivo
Conservation International Madagascar
Rao, Nalini S.
United States, Arlington
Conservation International
United States, Fairfax
Icf International Inc.
Dave, Radhika
United States, Arlington
Conservation International
United Kingdom, Southampton
University of Southampton
Razafimahatratra, Hery
Madagascar, Antananarivo
Université D'antananarivo
Rabarijohn, Rivo Hasinandrianina
Madagascar, Antananarivo
Idacc Association
Rajaofara, Haingo
Madagascar, Antananarivo
Conservation International Madagascar
MacKinnon, James L.
Madagascar, Antananarivo
Conservation International Madagascar
Statistics
Citations: 530
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1098/rstb.2013.0089
ISSN:
09628436
Research Areas
Environmental
Food Security
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Madagascar