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

Abstract

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 selfassessment, 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.

Decision-Making to Diversify Farm Systems for Climate Change Adaptation

“…Tree planting is a common on-farm diversification strategy to improve microclimates after their establishment (Bryan et al, 2009;Meldrum et al, 2018). Native tree species may be preferred candidates for diversification (Table 1, Example 7; Table 2).…”

Quinoa Expansion in Peru and Its Implications for Land Use Management

“…To a large extent, the current knowledge is related to the studies carried out in Bolivia where the intensification of quinoa production raises concerns, on both soil degradation and the compromise of the socio-ecological bases of the agrosystem, in order to face the multiple challenges for resilience to climate change and food security [7][8][9][10]. For these reasons, it is possible to place the Peruvian case within this problematic considering the country has become the world's largest producer and exporter of quinoa since 2014, accounting for about 60% of the total production [11].…”

Unearthing Unevenness of Potato Seed Networks in the High Andes: A Comparison of Distinct Cultivar Groups and Farmer Types Following Seasons With and Without Acute Stress

“…Possibly, with a reduced supply of the most common cultivars, farmers' seed choices were constrained to the less popular, non-commercial cultivars that were available in their networks. Another plausible explanation may involve farmers going back to more diverse species and varietal portfolios to spread risk (Meldrum et al, 2018). Indeed, frost accounted for nearly half of the stress events reported by farmers and can be partially managed using intraspecific diversity (Condori et al, 2014).…”

“…It can be exacerbated by acute stress (Phiri et al, 2004). Although Andean farmers manage a suite of risk mitigation strategies (Orlove and Godoy, 1986;Goland, 1993;Oswald et al, 2009;Parsa et al, 2011;Condori et al, 2014) the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather at high altitude can place a strain on the capacity to overcome shocks, thus possibly compromising the next season's plantings (Sietz et al, 2012;Sparks et al, 2014;Meldrum et al, 2018). Similarly, the altitudinal range expansion of potato pests and diseases under climate change has resulted in higher levels of biotic stress (Giraldo et al, 2010;Kroschel et al, 2013).…”