Climate Change Implications to Food Security and Livelihood of Small Scale Farmers

The inevitability of climate change is a major policy concern due to its expected impact on food security and the livelihood of small-scale farmers who depend on agriculture. It is threatening food production systems, food availability and accessibility. The impact of climate change in agriculture, however, is expected to be multifaceted because of heterogeneity in farming systems across countries and agro-ecological zones (ADB-IFPRI, 2009). Lao PDR and the Philippines are among the Asian countries whose exposure to climate risks seriously threatens food security and livelihoods, particularly of small-scale farmers, due to the interaction of social, economic, environmental and political factors that could affect food supply and demand. Thus, this study aims to determine the impacts of changing climate on rice production, availability and accessibility that can guide local policy actions to mitigate such impacts on food security and livelihood of small-scale farmers in Lao PDR and the Philippines.

Qualitative and quantitative data will be collected from primary sources though household survey, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus group discussions (FGDs) with stakeholders and boundary partners. Secondary data will be gathered from private institutions and government agencies and will include relevant policies; socio-ecological profile of the study areas; and biophysical and hydrometeorological data.

Research outputs will be communicated via publications, executive forums, symposium, seminar, local meetings and project website in the form of policy briefs; articles in peer-reviewed journals; scientific paper for presentation in scientific conferences/meetings; chapter in a book to be published by SUMERNET; bulletins and magazines in popular form; and research reports to comply with the reporting requirements of SUMERNET-CDKN.

Timeframe: September 25, 2011 – September 25, 2011