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1. Ecosystem-Based Practices for Smallholders' Adaptation to Climate Extremes: Evidence of Benefits and Knowledge Gaps in Latin America.

Author

Vignola, Raffaele, Esquivel, M. Jimena, Harvey, Celia, Rapidel, Bruno, Bautista-Solis, Pavel, Alpizar, Francisco, Donatti, Camila, and Avelino, Jacques

Subjects
CLIMATE extremes, SMALL farms, SCIENCE databases, WELL-being, SOCIOECONOMIC factors, CROPS, COFFEE beans, CORN
Abstract

Agricultural practices of smallholder farming systems of Latin America can play an important role in reducing their exposure to the risks associated with climate extremes. To date, however, there is no systematic analysis of scientific evidence for the extent to which these practices can provide the multiple benefits needed for smallholders to adapt to climate extremes. In this paper, we searched scientific databases to review scientific evidence of the benefit provided by twenty-six practices in crops commonly farmed by smallholders in the region and highly relevant for their food and nutrition security; namely, coffee, maize and beans. We reviewed scientific documents (n = 304) published in the period 1953–2021 to register evidence of the practices' effects on fifty-five benefits. Our analysis of these documents found measurement records (n = 924) largely based on field experiments (85%). Our results show strong evidence of the multiple benefits that some ecosystem-based practices (e.g., tree-based practices for coffee and no tillage for maize) can provide to support the adaptation to climate extremes of smallholder farming systems and enhance a farm's natural assets (e.g., biodiversity, water, soil). We also found that the majority of research on practices in the region focused more on the socioeconomic dimension (54%) rather than on the capacity of practices to improve the natural assets of a smallholder farmers or reduce the impact of climate extremes. Given these knowledge gaps, we discuss the importance of a renovated investment in research to address existing knowledge gaps. Our concluding suggestions for future research include the need for systematizing existing knowledge from different sources (e.g., peer-reviewed, gray literature, farmers, extension agencies, etc.), and to assess the extent to which these practices can provide multiple benefits for smallholder farming systems by improving their wellbeing, reducing their vulnerability to different hydroclimatic extremes while also contributing to ecosystem services provision at the landscape level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2022
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2. Agriculture in Nicaragua : Performance, Challenges, and Options

Author

Piccioni, Norman Bentley

Subjects
INDICATORS, INVESTMENT, INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, MEAT PRODUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURE, DAIRY PRODUCERS, HARVEST, NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, SOLAR ENERGY, COMMODITIES, MILK, BLACK SIGATOKA, CIAT, CGIAR RESEARCH, CROP RESIDUES, TROPICAL AGRICULTURE, EXTERNALITIES, AGRICULTURAL LAND, BEEF, AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, POPULATION GROWTH, AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY, AGROCHEMICALS, POPULATION, PRODUCTION AGRICULTURE, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, BREEDING, PLANNING, GROUND BEEF, SCIENCE, AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION, PROGRAM REVIEWS, POVERTY RATES, DAIRY PRODUCTS, MALNUTRITION, NATIVE VEGETATION, FOOD PRICES, OVERGRAZING, INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE, AGRICULTURAL LANDS, SOYBEANS, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, LEGUMES, AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION, LOSS OF CROPS, PEANUTS, MANURE MANAGEMENT, NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS, COFFEE, DISEASES, FERTILIZERS, SEEDS, AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS, VIOLENCE, FARMERS, GREENHOUSE GAS, BEEF EXPORTS, RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE, SUGAR, BORDER PRICES, PEANUT, AGRICULTURAL PRICE, MARKETS, AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS, FISH, ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, FARMS, RURAL POVERTY, WATERSHED, GLOBAL WARMING, AGRICULTURAL WASTE, YIELD LOSSES, AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES, AGRICULTURAL POLICIES, LANDS, ANIMALS, SOIL CONSERVATION, CROP, POVERTY REDUCTION, NEMATODES, FAO, OILSEED CROP, RESISTANT FORAGE, RICE CROPS, PLANT HEALTH, CROP PRODUCTION, POULTRY, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, BIODIVERSITY, FOOD DEMAND, CORN, GENETIC VARIABILITY, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SYSTEM, AGRICULTURE, INNOVATION, AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, RURAL POPULATION, SOIL QUALITY, CLIMATE CHANGE, RURAL EMPLOYMENT, CATTLE, BEAN, RESEARCH, PASTURES, PALM OIL, TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION, ARABLE LAND, AGRICULTURAL CROPS, MEXICO, CGIAR, METHANE, FORESTS, RICE CULTIVATION, FEED, ACCESS TO—FOOD, RAW MATERIALS, MEAT, LIVESTOCK PRODUCER, AGRICULTURAL BENEFIT, FOOD SECURITY, TARIFFS, INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, FARMLAND, SORGHUM, LIVE CATTLE, MEAT SUPPLY, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION, CROPPING, AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES, AGRICULTURAL AREA, LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS, AGRICULTURAL INFORMATION, TREES, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, FARMING, CROP MANAGEMENT, AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION, UNITED NATIONS, GREENHOUSE GASES, SOIL DEGRADATION, ACCESS TO FOOD, TRAINING, ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS, WHEAT, AGRIBUSINESS, BEANS, RURAL ROADS, FF, CERTIFIED SEED, CREDIT, ACCESS TO CREDIT, SUGARCANE, GRAIN, BOVINE POPULATION, USAID, SEASONS, TECHNOLOGY, RICE, OILSEED CROPS, FARMING SYSTEMS, AGRICULTURAL GROWTH, FORESTRY, CROPS, CEREALS, AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS, MANURE, PESTS, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, FOOD LEGUMES, INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR TROPICAL AGRICULTURE, WATER EROSION, LIVESTOCK, SEED VARIETIES, AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES, FUNGI, AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS, AGRICULTURAL CENSUS, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS, LIVE ANIMALS, NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURAL CYCLES, AGROFORESTRY, SOILS, CROP YIELDS, WATER RESOURCES, DEFORESTATION, IFAD, MAIZE, OILSEED
Abstract

This work summarizes background papers prepared for the World Bank Group with significant input from government counterparts and other development partners. It takes stock of major recent developments and argues that a lot has been achieved in the last decade in terms of production of commodities for export and food consumption, with favorable impact on rural poverty reduction. It also argues that the two factors driving the recent agricultural performance, namely favorable international prices and expansion of the agricultural frontier, have reached their limits. So while trade policies are broadly on target, much can be done by focusing on the productivity of small family agriculture and improving competitiveness by reducing transaction costs (logistics) affecting small, medium, and large commercial farms. In the short to medium term, the household income of the rural poor will continue to depend largely on agriculture. Thus interventions will need to take into account the heterogeneity of smallholder agriculture while simultaneously increasing its resilience to climate risks through climate-smart agriculture.

Published
2015