Abstract

Future climate changes will affect smallholder farmers in the developing world, posing threats to household food security. Nevertheless, there remains limited comparable evidence across multiple countries and regions regarding the global extent of climate shocks affecting smallholder food security. We examine data from 5,299 household surveys across 15 countries in Latin America, Africa and South Asia to assess the extent of climate shocks and their association with food insecurity, as well as what strategies may help buffer against climate shocks. We find that 71% of households reported experiencing a climate shock in the previous five years. Fifty-four percent reported experiencing food insecurity during one or more months annually. A multilevel statistical model estimated factors correlated with food insecurity as well as factors correlated with food insecurity among households that had experienced a climate shock. Households that reported experiencing a climate shock were 1.73 times more likely to be food insecure. As well, larger and poorer households were associated with higher odds of food insecurity while using pesticides, keeping large livestock, and being more educated are associated with lower odds of food insecurity. Among households that had experienced a climate shock, additional factors are correlated with lower odds of food insecurity when compared to otherwise similar households: use of fertilizers, pesticides, veterinary medicines, large livestock, and household assets. Together, these results demonstrate the extent of existing climate shocks affecting smallholder farmers and how interventions may potentially support adaptation and reduce food insecurity.

Highlights

  • International development goals principally focus on eradicating poverty and food insecurity [1]

  • Africa at a regional level experienced the greatest average rates of food insecurity (3.5 months), and East Africa therein (4.3 months). This variability of both food insecurity and climate shocks experienced within most sites, suggests that the impacts of climate events may be largely dependent on household-scale factors and households’ ability to cope

  • We demonstrate the association between climate shocks and food insecurity and the potential impacts they pose to smallholder farmers and livestock keepers globally

Read more

Summary

Introduction

International development goals principally focus on eradicating poverty and food insecurity [1]. These goals shaped development objectives beginning in the Green Revolution through the Millennium Development Goals and remain central in the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The focus on food security is crucial for a number of reasons, including the wraparound benefits it has for achieving other development goals related to education, health and democracy [2,3].

Methods
Results
Conclusion

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.