Climate change and crop diversity: farmers’ perceptions and adaptation on the Bolivian Altiplano

Crop diversity is central to traditional risk management practices on the Andean Altiplano and may find renewed importance in adapting to climate change. This study explored the role of crop diversity in farmers’ adaptation actions in eight Aymara communities on the northern Bolivian Altiplano. Usin...

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Main Authors: Meldrum, G., Mijatović, Dunja, Rojas, W., Flores, J., Pinto, M., Mamani, G., Condori, E., Hilaquita, D., Gruberg, H., Padulosi, S.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Springer 2018
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/78658
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author Meldrum, G.
Mijatović, Dunja
Rojas, W.
Flores, J.
Pinto, M.
Mamani, G.
Condori, E.
Hilaquita, D.
Gruberg, H.
Padulosi, S.
author_browse Condori, E.
Flores, J.
Gruberg, H.
Hilaquita, D.
Mamani, G.
Meldrum, G.
Mijatović, Dunja
Padulosi, S.
Pinto, M.
Rojas, W.
author_facet Meldrum, G.
Mijatović, Dunja
Rojas, W.
Flores, J.
Pinto, M.
Mamani, G.
Condori, E.
Hilaquita, D.
Gruberg, H.
Padulosi, S.
author_sort Meldrum, G.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Crop diversity is central to traditional risk management practices on the Andean Altiplano and may find renewed importance in adapting to climate change. This study explored the role of crop diversity in farmers’ adaptation actions in eight Aymara communities on the northern Bolivian Altiplano. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, including multifactor analysis and a community resilience self-assessment, we investigated how farmers’ use of diversity in adaptation is related to their perceptions of crop and variety tolerances and other environmental, social, and economic factors. Few crops and varieties were perceived as tolerant to increasingly intense and unpredictable drought, frost, hail, and pest and disease outbreaks. Some local crops and varieties were perceived as vulnerable to emerging conditions (e.g. oca, papalisa, isaño), whereas bitter potatoes and wild relatives of quinoa and cañahua were perceived as highly stress tolerant and provide food in harsh periods. A total 19% of households surveyed (N = 193) had introduced new crops or varieties—often disease resistant or early maturing—as an adaptive action. Introduction of commercial crops was a common adaptation action, reflecting farmers’ response to warming temperatures and changing economic opportunities, but greater sensitivity of the introduced crops may cause maladaptation. Despite intensification of cropping systems, households continue to maintain a median four potato varieties with different tolerance traits, yet this risk management practice was not perceived as adaptation. Strengthening resilience will require a combination of actions, including maintaining and expanding crop portfolios and restoring soil and ecosystem health, using both traditional and innovative approaches.
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spelling CGSpace786582025-11-12T05:44:10Z Climate change and crop diversity: farmers’ perceptions and adaptation on the Bolivian Altiplano Meldrum, G. Mijatović, Dunja Rojas, W. Flores, J. Pinto, M. Mamani, G. Condori, E. Hilaquita, D. Gruberg, H. Padulosi, S. agrobiodiversity resilience climate change adaptation indigenous knowledge disease tolerance tolerance to pests water tolerance Crop diversity is central to traditional risk management practices on the Andean Altiplano and may find renewed importance in adapting to climate change. This study explored the role of crop diversity in farmers’ adaptation actions in eight Aymara communities on the northern Bolivian Altiplano. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, including multifactor analysis and a community resilience self-assessment, we investigated how farmers’ use of diversity in adaptation is related to their perceptions of crop and variety tolerances and other environmental, social, and economic factors. Few crops and varieties were perceived as tolerant to increasingly intense and unpredictable drought, frost, hail, and pest and disease outbreaks. Some local crops and varieties were perceived as vulnerable to emerging conditions (e.g. oca, papalisa, isaño), whereas bitter potatoes and wild relatives of quinoa and cañahua were perceived as highly stress tolerant and provide food in harsh periods. A total 19% of households surveyed (N = 193) had introduced new crops or varieties—often disease resistant or early maturing—as an adaptive action. Introduction of commercial crops was a common adaptation action, reflecting farmers’ response to warming temperatures and changing economic opportunities, but greater sensitivity of the introduced crops may cause maladaptation. Despite intensification of cropping systems, households continue to maintain a median four potato varieties with different tolerance traits, yet this risk management practice was not perceived as adaptation. Strengthening resilience will require a combination of actions, including maintaining and expanding crop portfolios and restoring soil and ecosystem health, using both traditional and innovative approaches. 2018-04 2017-01-10T14:04:41Z 2017-01-10T14:04:41Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/78658 en Open Access application/pdf Springer Meldrum, G.; Mijatovic, D.; Rojas, W.; Flores, J.; Pinto, M.; Mamani, G.; Condori, E.; Hilaquita, D.; Gruberg, H.; Padulosi, S. (2017) Climate change and crop diversity: farmers’ perceptions and adaptation on the Bolivian Altiplano. Environment, Development and Sustainability Online first paper. p.1-28 ISSN: 1387-585X
spellingShingle agrobiodiversity
resilience
climate change
adaptation
indigenous knowledge
disease tolerance
tolerance to pests
water tolerance
Meldrum, G.
Mijatović, Dunja
Rojas, W.
Flores, J.
Pinto, M.
Mamani, G.
Condori, E.
Hilaquita, D.
Gruberg, H.
Padulosi, S.
Climate change and crop diversity: farmers’ perceptions and adaptation on the Bolivian Altiplano
title Climate change and crop diversity: farmers’ perceptions and adaptation on the Bolivian Altiplano
title_full Climate change and crop diversity: farmers’ perceptions and adaptation on the Bolivian Altiplano
title_fullStr Climate change and crop diversity: farmers’ perceptions and adaptation on the Bolivian Altiplano
title_full_unstemmed Climate change and crop diversity: farmers’ perceptions and adaptation on the Bolivian Altiplano
title_short Climate change and crop diversity: farmers’ perceptions and adaptation on the Bolivian Altiplano
title_sort climate change and crop diversity farmers perceptions and adaptation on the bolivian altiplano
topic agrobiodiversity
resilience
climate change
adaptation
indigenous knowledge
disease tolerance
tolerance to pests
water tolerance
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/78658
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