Environmental change and the livelihood resilience of coffee farmers in Jamaica: A case study of the Cedar Valley farming region

Abstract

Rapid socio-ecological changes are transforming coffee production systems causing hardship and uncertainty among farmers across the Caribbean. The uncertainty and magnitude of environmental change have been superimposed on longstanding issues of marginalization and multidimensional poverty among rural farmers. The combined and interactive effects of these conditions create complex trade-offs that hinder the uptake of effective climate action. In the last two decades or so, Jamaica's coffee sector has been severely affected by socioeconomic, environmental and institutional stressors resulting in rapid declines in the production and livelihood conditions of thousands of farmers across the island. To address these challenges, multilateral donors, government and non-government agencies have advanced several climate resilience programs in the last decade. Yet, there is a paucity of research on the livelihood resilience of farmers to socio-ecological change, and effective metrics to monitor and evaluate adaptation responses . In this paper, the experience and knowledge of coffee farmers (n = 219) in the Cedar Valley region of Jamaica are used to examine the factors shaping patterns of livelihood resilience within the context of socio-ecological changes. Quantitative survey data are combined with qualitative information from focus group discussions and key informant interviews to develop storylines around the domains of livelihood resilience. The results provide baseline information on the livelihood resilience of local coffee farmers and within the context of changing social, agronomic and environmental conditions. Understanding how these factors shape local livelihood resilience processes can strengthen local response options, identify possible entry points for improving climate action and establish monitoring and evaluation metrics to track progress and outcomes of climate resilience interventions. • Environmental change and Livelihood resilience coffee farmers in Jamaica are assessed. • Anticipatory, adaptive and absorptive capacities (3As) are used to measure resilience. • Land tenure and gender issues are important determinants of livelihood resilience. • Strengthening local institutional capacity can improve livelihood resilience outcomes.