Non-climatic stressors constraining adaptation to drought in rice-farming communities in the Philippines

Abstract

ABSTRACT In climate change adaptation, non-climatic stressors is a concept that is used to describe the different types of stressors that people are faced with to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Usually, however, this concept is loosely applied in the literature. In the current study, we conducted interviews with farmers in drought-prone rice-producing provinces in the Philippines to better understand the types of stressors they face in adapting to climate change. Overall, 87 farmers, 17 key informants, and 4 experts participated in the research. A range of qualitative methods were used, including interviews, focus group discussions, and windshield surveys. The findings suggest two main types of stressors: direct and distal. Direct stressors (e.g. bureaucratic hurdles and poverty) are factors that directly affect the ability to adapt to climate change. Distal stressors (e.g. infrastructure development and national development) are stressors that do not appear to be related to climate change adaptation and yet affect climate change adaptation outcomes significantly. Recognizing and taking into account these two types of stressors will help in improving the design of interventions for farmers in dealing with the impacts of climate change.