Dixon, JL, Stringer, LC and Challinor, AJ (2014) Farming system evolution and adaptive capacity: insights for adaptation support. Resources, 3 (1). 182 - 214. ISSN 2079-9276
Abstract
Studies of climate impacts on agriculture and adaptation often provide current or future assessments, ignoring the historical contexts farming systems are situated within. We investigate how historical trends have influenced farming system adaptive capacity in Uganda using data from household surveys, semi-structured interviews, focus-group discussions and observations. By comparing two farming systems, we note three major findings: (1) similar trends in farming system evolution have had differential impacts on the diversity of farming systems; (2) trends have contributed to the erosion of informal social and cultural institutions and an increasing dependence on formal institutions; and (3) trade-offs between components of adaptive capacity are made at the farm-scale, thus influencing farming system adaptive capacity. To identify the actual impacts of future climate change and variability, it is important to recognize the dynamic nature of adaptation. In practice, areas identified for further adaptation support include: shift away from one-size-fits-all approach the identification and integration of appropriate modern farming method; a greater focus on building inclusive formal and informal institutions; and a more nuanced understanding regarding the roles and decision-making processes of influential, but external, actors. More research is needed to understand farm-scale trade-offs and the resulting impacts across spatial and temporal scales.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/). |
Keywords: | farming systems; adaptive capacity; Uganda; adaptation; agriculture; resilience; vulnerability; institutions; climate impacts; climate change |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 24 Sep 2014 10:10 |
Last Modified: | 07 Dec 2022 15:29 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/resources3010182 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | MDPI AG |
Identification Number: | 10.3390/resources3010182 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:80216 |
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