www.iita.orgA member of the CGIAR consortium
A systems approach for adapting to climate change in the East African highlands
Coffee and climate change: the importance of systems thinking
NaCORI
www.iita.orgA member of the CGIAR consortium
Why systems research?
Goal: translate innovations into improved livelihoods
1. Systems framework as analysis – nested scales
2. Biophysical, socio-economic and institutional constraints
3. Agro-ecosystem or region as unit of analysis
4. Engaging with partners from the beginning
Develop a theory of change
www.iita.orgA member of the CGIAR consortium
COFFEA CENAPHORA SUITABILITY IN UGANDA
21 IPCC models
19 bioclimatic variables
Rains become more intense
More erratic dry spells
MAXENT APPROACH
Outlook if coffee systems stay the way the are
Arabica moves up the slope
Robusta moves towards the equator
Suitability changes for Arabica and Robusta with climate change
NEED FOR ADAPTATION
www.iita.orgA member of the CGIAR consortium
Constraints for coffee production
Low soil fertility
Pests and diseases
Poor management practices
Poor market information
Gender imbalances
Poor access to markets
Poor extension services
Institutional challenges
Post-harvest handling
Climate change
www.iita.orgA member of the CGIAR consortium
Shade as an adaptation strategy
RwandaBurundi
Uganda Tanzania
Temperature under shade can be up to 5°C less than in full sun
Shade protects flowers and berries during heavy storms
www.iita.orgA member of the CGIAR consortium
Impact of adaptation strategy on constraints
In East Uganda, there is 50% less incidence of coffee leaf rust in coffee x banana systems
In Central Uganda, there is more incidence of twig borer under shade
www.iita.orgA member of the CGIAR consortium
Perception of farmers about the adaptation strategy
Benefits Constraints
Shade is good for coffee Competition
Fruits for eating Falling branches damaging coffee
Nutrient cycling Hosting pests
Fruits for selling Compacts soils
Trees for fire wood
Mulching
Wind breakers
Wood for timber
Better quality
Fodder
Short-term benefits are important
Need to manage competition between shade crop/tree and coffee
www.iita.orgA member of the CGIAR consortium
Managing competition in shaded coffee systems
Soil critical values
Foliar critical values
Compositional nutrient diagnosis
Micronutrient analysis is lacking
Fertilizer recommendations based on most limiting nutrients
www.iita.orgA member of the CGIAR consortium
From crop to system: vulnerability of farmers to climate change in Rakai
Results from 20 gender disagreggated focus group discussions
Past- Access to communal grazing land- Access to wetlands
Present- Communal grazing + wetlands are fenced off- Land-use changes: Eucalyptus trees are planted
Vulnerability of smallholder farmer increases- When hit by a crises (ex. drought), farmer has no access to ‘buffer’ strategies- Farmer has to walk 4 km to access water because of wetland drainage
With climate change incidence of crises will increase if no adaptation
www.iita.orgA member of the CGIAR consortium
Need to develop more resilient agricultural practices
- Shaded coffee systems- Integrated soil fertility management- Water harvesting technologies- Crop diversification / shifts
Climate change adaptation at policy level
Need to study gaps and conflicts at policy level
- climate change plan vs land policy vs wetland policy- National level vs. Local level- Inform and train implementors at local level
Adaptation from plant to plot to household to policy to landscape
www.iita.orgA member of the CGIAR consortium
Thank you!
Team: Edidah Ampaire, Herbert Ainembabazi, Ibrahim Wanyama, David Mukasa, Ghislaine Bongers, Piet van Asten, Laurence Jassogne, Perez Muchunguzi, Anna Sole Amatsupported by COREC-NACCRI, Kyagalanyi, NUCAFE, NKG Alliance, the local MAAIF extension, aBi-Trust, ACA, UCDA, CIAT, CCAFS, WITS, Goettingen uni, USAID and others