Potential Adaptations to Climate Change for Island farmers Dr David C. Smith & Dr Kevon Rhiney, University of the West Indies
Feb 25, 2016
Potential Adaptations to Climate Change for Island farmers
Dr David C. Smith & Dr Kevon Rhiney,University of the West Indies
Likely Effects of Climate Change for SIDS Changed Rainfall patterns
Extended Drought Heavy rainfall and floods
Changed patterns of severe weather particularly cyclones Caribbean: Stronger, Fewer, Wetter
Sea Level Rise Increased Salinity of groundwater, soils
and coastal areas, floods.
Likely Impacts: Caribbean
Significant losses (7-12%) under climate change scenarios for sugarcane, banana, cassava, yam, sweet potato & tomato by 2050 (ECLAC 2013) 33% loss for banana/plantain, 28% for tomato
Rhiney (2013) indicates that in Jamaica the zones suitable for growing many crops will change and be reduced in extent by 2050
Farmers he interviewed indicated they saw less rain and longer droughts
Adaptation Strategies Water Management and Efficiency
Harvesting and collection On farm use, e.g. drip irrigation, solar pumps
Resistant Varieties & Biodiversity of ag species Drought Salinity
Cultural options Intensive vs. extensive, high tunnel houses, crop
diversity Organic Farming Post harvest care & management
ECLAC’s 10 options for CC Adaptation Food storage Water saving
irrigation systems Water
Conservation rooftop collection
Holistic water management plans
Early warning systems and Disaster management plans
Improve soil conservation
On-farm water storage
Develop and use drought resistant crop varieties
Mainstream Use protected
agricultural structures
Top five in terms of benefit (ECLAC)
Strategy Benefit: Cost Ratio
On-farm Ponds or water tanks 196
Early Warning Systems 81
Mainstreaming CC into policy 44
Drought resistant varieties 41
Food storage 15
Green Houses /HTH Rank 7th or 10th
Water Harvesting (GWP)
Impact of Hurricane Ivan was reduced where rainwater harvesting was established (Peters 2010)
GWP/CEHI use a system with “first flush” diversion
Communities in T&T and demos in 3 other countries
http://www.cehi.org.lc/Rain/Rainwater%20Harvesting%20Toolbox/index.htm
www.gwp-caribbean.org
Demo for RWH with 1st flush diversion (GWP-C)
Solar water pumping system
Source: Simpson 2012
High Tunnel Houses
Photos from GEF Small Grants Programme Jamaica http://sgp.undp.org/index.php?option=com_sgpprojects&view=projectdetail&id=9620&Itemid=205
Requirements / Next steps Data need to inform decisions
Weather and climate Economic Cultural and Social
Producing data to model the effects of CC on various crops & testing varieties in the field for adaptability and resilience (Rhiney 2013)
Education on water management options e.g. RWH
Useful Links
Caribbean Climate Online Risk & Adaptation Tool http://ccoral.caribbeanclimate.bz/
Global Water Partnership Caribbean & Toolbox www.gwp-caribbean.org http://www.cehi.org.lc/Rain/Rainwater%2
0Harvesting%20Toolbox/index.htm
ECLAC 2013 study http://www.eclac.org/portofspain/noticias/documentosdetrabajo/5/49705/Agriculture.pdf
References Hutchinson, S. et.al, (2013). An assessment of the
economic and social impacts of climate change on the agriculture sector in the Caribbean. UN ECLAC 87pp.
Peters, E.J. (2010) Impact of Hurricane Ivan on Grenada water supply Proceedings of the ICE - Water Management, 163, pp57 –64.
Rhiney K., Campbell, D., & Barker, D. (2013) Promoting Marketing Competitiveness & Adaption to Climate Change among Smallholder Farmers in Jamaica. ACDI/VOCA, Kingston, Jamaica.
Williams, N. & Thomas, K. (2012) Sustainable Water Resources in the Caribbean: Prospects and Challenges Water Resources Impact 14 5 pp19-21