improving the resilience of the agriculture sector in lao ... · climate change adaptation in the...

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Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Executing Entity/Implementing Partner: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, MAF, Vientiane, Lao PDR

Implementing Entity/Responsible Partner: National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, NAFRI

United Nations Development Programme

Selected agriculture concepts, approaches, commodities for development of

CLIMATE CHANGE TRAINING AND ADAPTATION MODULES FOR LAO PDR:

1. OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS

Improving the Resilience of the Agriculture Sector in Lao PDR to Climate Change Impacts (IRAS Lao Project)

Project Contact : Mr. Khamphone Mounlamai, Project Manager Email Address : [email protected]

June 30, 2012

ສາທາລະນະລດັ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊນົລາວ

Lao People's Democratic Republic

ອງົການສະຫະປະຊາຊາດເພ ື່ ອການພດັທະນາ

United Nations Development Programme

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SUMMARY The MAF in collaboration with the UNDP and other Government of Lao (GoL) and Non-

government Organisation (NGO) partners, has prepared five (5) modules or guides for

extension officers/workers who will be involved in promoting good practices and technologies for

climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector. Entitled the “Climate Change Training

and Adaptation Module” or CCTAMs, these guides are part of the target outputs of the MAF –

NAFRI project entitled “Improving Resilience in Agriculture Sector to Climate Change” or IRAS

Project. The CCTAMs being developed are:

1. Overview of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) for Upland farming conditions

2. Overview of CCA for Lowland Farming Conditions

3. CCA through On-farm and Community Level Water Management;

4. CCA in Crop Production;

5. CCA in Small Livestock

The CCTAMs discusses the challenges posed by the combined effects of land degradation due

to inappropriate land use practices and the effects of climate change. They then provide an

overview of the range of practices and technologies that may be considered to adapt to climate

change, at the same time addressing the issues of natural resource degradation.

This is the first of the 5 CCTAMS entitled “OVERVIEW OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION

(CCA) FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS”. This guide provides a brief overview of

lowland farming conditions; the emerging effects of climate change; and the broad categories of

practices that can be implemented to address the challenges. This provides the perspective for

using CCTAM 3, 4, and 5 under lowland farming conditions.

Stakeholder consultations at the provincial and national levels identified the key issues as a

result of the combined effects of natural resources degradation, inappropriate agricultural land

use practices and climate change. Subsequent consultations identified possible measures that

can be applied. In identifying the priority interventions or lowland farming conditions the

following key features in lowland farming were considered:

Variable farm conditions due to variations in slope, altitude, soil fertility, ethnic

practices, among others. An upland farm actually consists of several parcels – this

include a hilly “side slope”, a small “valley bottom” and a fallow land. Each of these land

forms requires a different set of practices and farm resources.

Farms depend on forests for the wide range of goods and ecological services. These

goods include NTFPs, construction materials, etc. These often serve as safety nets

(supplemental sources of food and income) especially during lean months. Forests

ecological services that are important to farming include soil fertility restoration during

fallow periods.

CLIMATE CHANGE TRAINING AND ADAPTATION MODULE FOR OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS

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Low soil fertility. High rainfall in the tropics leads to excessive drainage of nutrients

(leaching) making many vital nutrients become unavailable to plants. Second, high

rainfall on sloping land leads to high water runoff and erosion of valuable top soil.

Plowing up and down the slope abets the erosion situation. The result is poor soil,

unable to support major productivity increases of upland farms.

Critical need for water management. During the wet season, sloping conditions lead to

very high surface runoff. At the same time, soils with low organic matter absorb only a

little amount of the rainfall that is needed by plants.

Changing landscapes. Policies that discourage slash and burn agriculture and

reduced fallow periods have led to high labor costs especially in weed control. Shifts to

intensive upland cultivation of commercial crops have abetted erosion rates and loss of

biodiversity.

Limited access to markets and access to extension services lead farmers to rely on

subsistence farming and constrain diversification of farm commodities. There is also a

lack of access to important extension services such a vaccination of animals. This

makes farmers more vulnerable because many animals die early and the farmer lose

part of his /her safety nets.

There are various technical strategies that have been proposed to increase adaptive capacity of

farms to climate change. This would range from adjusting the use of climate smart varieties,

adjusting the planting time, crop diversification, constructing water ponds, farm sanitation that

can bring immediate relief. In addition to the above measures that would bring immediate relief,

farming communities would also need to invest time and effort to arrest the further decline of the

resource base (forests, biodiversity, soils, and water resources) and in fact apply measures to

regenerate them.

This guide consists of three parts.

Part 1 discusses some key practical concepts that need to be appreciated when

addressing climate change in agriculture particularly under lowland farming conditions.

Part 2 discusses the range of strategies that may be considered and tested in specific

lowland locations. Part 2 is supported by subsequent extension guides (CCTAMs #3, #4

and #5).

Part 3 discusses specific steps on how the local extension team, in collaboration with

other local service providers, can guide farming communities to understand and act on

their current situation as affected by climate change. This involves the use of

participatory planning tools, adapted from successful experience elsewhere. These tools

can help communities identify priority issues important to them, and pinpoint priority

actions that they would like to do, based on recommendations from the extension team.

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List of Acronyms

AKP Adaptation Knowledge Platform

CC Climate Change

CCA Climate Change Adaptation

CCTAM Climate Change Training and Adaptation Module

DAFO District Agriculture and Forestry Office

DRM Disaster Risk Management

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization

FFS Farmer Field School

GEF Global Environment Facility

GoL Government of Lao

IAPAD Participatory Avenues

IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development

IFRC International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

IRAS Improving the Resilience of the Agriculture Sector in Lao PDR to Climate Change Impacts

IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature

IWMI International Water Management Institute

LRFT Local Research and Facilitation Team

MAF Ministry of Agriculture

NAPA National Adaptation Programme of Action

NAFRI National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute

NGO Non-government Organisation

NTFPs Non-Timber Forest Products

OXFAM Oxfam International

PAFO Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office

SDC Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation


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TOT Training of Trainers

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

UNFCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

WREA Water Resources and Environment Administration


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Table of Contents

SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. i

List of Acronyms ..................................................................................................................... iii

List of Figures ........................................................................................................................ vii

BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................... 1

SELECTED AGRICULTURE CONCEPTS, APPROACHES, COMMODITIES FOR THE

DEVELOPMENT OFCLIMATE CHANGE TRAINING AND ADAPTATION MODULES

FOR LAO PDR # 1: OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FOR UPLAND FARMING

CONDITIONS ............................................................................................................................. 4

1.0 WHAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED IN PLANNING CLIMATE CHANGE

ADAPTATION IN UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS? ............................................................... 5

1.1 What are the natural features of upland farms and land use practices that

predispose them to low productivity? ....................................................................................... 5

1.2 How is climate change affecting farming in the uplands? ................................................... 6

1.3 Given the complex link between farms, forest and water resources, what overall

approach is needed to address CC in upland areas? .............................................................. 7

2.0 OVERVIEW OF VARIOUS STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE IN

THE UPLANDS ........................................................................................................................... 9

2.1 On-farm and community level water management ............................................................. 9

2.1.1 Upland context ............................................................................................................ 9

2.1.2 Basic strategies ......................................................................................................... 10

2.2 Adaptation measures in crop production .......................................................................... 11

2.2.1 Upland context .......................................................................................................... 11


2.3 Small livestock production ............................................................................................... 12

2.3.1 Upland context .......................................................................................................... 12


3.0 ENABLING THE COMMUNITY TO ACT ON THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ........ 13

3.1 Step 1: Help the community indentify and prioritize the hazards and changing

climate conditions that affect them ......................................................................................... 13

3.2 Step 2: Build community awareness on successful good practices and

technologies that may address the priority needs defined by the community ......................... 17


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3.3 Step 3: Facilitate decision making on what type of strategies the community would

want to try out as a community or thorough individual work. .................................................. 17

3.4 Step 4: Facilitate the implementation of priority actions in demonstration farms

or demonstration areas. ......................................................................................................... 17

3.5 Step 5: Facilitate monitoring, reflection, and follow on planning. ...................................... 18

CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................................... 19

Key References ..................................................................................................................... 20


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List of Figures

# Title Page

Figure 1 The Upland Farm 6

Figure 2 Three sets of interventions for climate change adaptation in upland

farming

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Figure 3a Example of a community resource map 14

Figure 3b Example of a livelihood calendar 14

Figure 3c Example of a community hazard map 15

Figure 3d Example of monthly calendar showing changing climatic conditions 15

Figure 3e Example of a chart on effects of hazards and climate change 16

Figure 3f Example of a Prioritization Chart 16


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BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

The need for Climate Change Adaptation

The Ministry of Agriculture (MAF), in collaboration with the UNDP, is presently implementing the

Project entitled “Improving the Resilience of the Agriculture Sector in Lao PDR to Climate

Change Impacts” or the IRAS Project. This project addresses the need to adapt to climate

change in the agriculture sector.

The IRAS project document states that “the current and future climate-related risks to Lao PDR

and key areas of vulnerability have been analyzed in the country’s First National

Communication (STEA, October 2000) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change (UNFCCC) and the National Adaptation Programme of Action (WREA, April 2009).

According to the updated Koeppen-Geiger classification from 2006, as cited by the IRAS Project

document, there will be more rainfall events in the centre and the north of the country during the

first half of the century and an expansion of climatic conditions at present prevailing in the south,

these slightly shrinking again in the second half of the century. These expected changes will

require resilience and early gained adaptive capacity of the agricultural sector and the farmers

to cope with the situation. Seen as a function of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity, Lao

PDR ranks as one of the most vulnerable countries in South East Asia.

Climate change is expected to change the frequency, intensity and location of existing climate

hazards and challenge the existing coping mechanisms of the population; especially those living

in rural and remote places. (IRAS Project Document, 2010)

The IRAS Project

The objective of the IRAS Project is to minimize food insecurity resulting from climate change in

Lao PDR and to reduce the vulnerability of farmers to extreme flooding and drought events.

There are four expected outcomes:

Outcome 1: Knowledge base on Climate Change impacts in Lao PDR on agricultural

production, food security and vulnerability, and local coping mechanisms strengthened;

Outcome 2: Capacities of sectoral planners and agricultural producers strengthened to

understand and address climate change – related risks and opportunities for local food

production and socio-economic conditions

Outcome 3: Community-based adaptive agricultural practices and off-farm opportunities

demonstrated and promoted within suitable agro-ecological systems

Outcome 4: Adaptation Monitoring and Learning as a long-term process


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The Climate Change Training and Adaptation Modules or CCTAMs

Under the IRAS project, the MAF in collaboration with the UNDP and other Government of Lao

(GoL) and Non-government Organisation (NGO) partners, is now preparing six (6) guides for

extension officers/workers who will be involved in promoting good practices and technologies for

climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector. Entitled the “Climate Change Training

and Adaptation Module” or CCTAMs, these guides are part of the target outputs of the MAF –

NAFRI project entitled “Improving Resilience in Agriculture Sector to Climate Change” or IRAS

Project. The CCTAMs are:

1. Overview of Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) for Upland Farming Conditions

2. Overview of CCA in Lowland Farming

3. CCA through On-farm and Community Level Water Management

4. CCA in Crop Production

5. CCA in Small Livestock

Objectives of the CCTAMs

a. Provide an overview of the challenges posed by the combined effects of land

degradation due to inappropriate land use practices and the effects of climate change;

b. Provide an overview of the range of practices and technologies that may be considered

to adapt to climate change, at the same time addressing the issues of natural resource

degradation; and

c. Serve as a quick reference to existing relevant extension materials and making the latter

available to the extension officers/workers.

How were the CCTAMs prepared?

Stakeholder consultations at the provincial and national levels identified the key issues as a

result of the combined effects of natural resources degradation, inappropriate agricultural land

use practices and climate change. Subsequent consultations identified possible measures that

can be applied. The CCTAM assembles the key knowledge from communities and researchers

in the areas of natural resource management, sustainable agriculture and recent dialogue on

climate change adaptation.

How will the CCTAMs be used?

The first step is to determine the location-specific needs of farming communities. PAFO and

DAFO personnel may use CCTAM #1 on Upland Farming conditions and the CCTAM #2 on

Lowland Farming conditions to obtain an overview of the upland and lowland situation as well as

problems associated with drought and flood conditions.

The PAFO and DAFO, together with local authorities and local partners, can use Part 3 of the

CCTAMs #1 (Upland Farming) and #2 (Lowland Farming) to facilitate a simple community


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based action planning process for adaptation to climate change. Part 3 provides several

participatory planning tools. The output will be priority issues and actions.

Based on the priorities set by farming communities, Extension Officers in consultation with local

authorities, will identify priority actions from among the options cited in the CCTAMs. Based on

the agreement with communities, the selected options will then be tested and demonstrated on

the ground. Results from several seasons of observation will be documented, analyzed and

discussed; and used to revise the CCTAMs and/or develop more detailed local guides.


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SELECTED AGRICULTURE CONCEPTS, APPROACHES,

COMMODITIES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OFCLIMATE CHANGE

TRAINING AND ADAPTATION MODULES FOR LAO PDR # 1:

OVERVIEW OF ACTIONS FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS

This is the first of the five (5) CCTAMs entitled “OVERVIEW OF CLIMATE CHANGE

ADAPTATION FOR UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS”. This guide provides a brief description

of upland farming conditions; the emerging effects of climate change; and what can be done

about it.

It proposes that, to be successful at climate change adaptation, two simultaneous sets of

actions are needed. The first would be fundamental actions that help protect /restore degraded

local natural resources (forests, water, and soils). The second are immediate actions that adjust

to changing climatic conditions (climate smart varieties, timing of planting). Both sets of actions

can be done at both farm and community or landscape levels. Landscapes may refer to the

physical mosaic or web of mountains, forests, rivers, and farms that are linked to each other in

the locality.

This guide consists of three parts. Part 1 discusses some key practical concepts that need to

be appreciated when addressing climate change in agriculture particularly under upland farming

conditions.

Part 2 discusses the range of strategies that may be considered and tested in specific upland

locations. Part 2 is supported by subsequent extension guides (CCTAMs #3, #4 and #5).

Part 3 discusses specific steps on how the local extension team, in collaboration with other local

service providers, can guide farming communities to understand and act on their current

situation as affected by climate change. This involves the use of participatory planning tools,

adapted from successful experience elsewhere. These tools can help communities identify

priority issues important to them, and pinpoint priority actions that they would like to do, based

on recommendations from the extension team.


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1.0 WHAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED IN PLANNING CLIMATE

CHANGE ADAPTATION IN UPLAND FARMING CONDITIONS?

1.1 What are the natural features of upland farms and land use practices that predispose

them to low productivity?

It is generally known that upland farms are currently less productive than lowland farms. This

situation is the result of natural features (e.g. high surface runoff and erosion) and limitations of

upland ecosystems, as well as land use practices that are inappropriate to the fragile nature of

these ecosystems. Climate change exacerbates the effects of the natural limitations as well as

inappropriate land use practices, on overall farm productivity.

The following are some key relevant features of upland farming in the country:

Variable farm conditions due to variations in slope, altitude, soil fertility, ethnic

practices, among others. An upland farm actually consists of several parcels – this

include a hilly “side slope”, a small “valley bottom” and a fallow land. Each of these land

forms requires a different set of practices and farm resources. Developing and

maintaining upland farms require much attention, capital and effort on the part of

farmers. Limited labor availability and lack of financial resources prevents upland

farmers from doing this.

Farms depend on forests for the wide range of goods and ecological services. These

goods include NTFPs, construction materials, etc. These often serve as safety nets

(supplemental sources of food and income) especially during lean months

Forests ecological services that are important to farming include soil fertility restoration

during fallow periods and the export of nutrients from decomposing biomass (dead

leaves, etc.) to farms through water run-off. Forests help soils absorb rainfall and

recharge local aquifers and springs.

Forest biodiversity hosts organisms that are important for crop pollination and natural

crop protection. Degradation of local forests or even shorter fallow periods means that

farmers are less able than before to avail of these ecological services leading to the

decline of farm productivity.

Low soil fertility. Low soil fertility is a function of several factors. First, high rainfall in

the tropics leads to excessive drainage of nutrients (leaching) making many vital

nutrients become unavailable to plants. Second, high rainfall on sloping land leads to

high water runoff and erosion of valuable top soil. Third, the usual farmer practices that

involve plowing up and down the slope abet the situation. The result is poor soil, unable

to support major productivity increases of upland farms.


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Critical need for water management. Most upland farms rely on rainfall in the absence

of irrigation facilities. During the wet season, sloping conditions lead to very high surface

runoff often causing damage to life and property. Most of that rainfall is not absorbed by

the soil. Land use practices that cause soil erosion also abets water runoff. At the same

time, soils with low organic matter absorb only a little amount of the rainfall that is

needed by plants. There is very limited water during the dry season.

Changing landscapes. Policies that discourage slash and burn agriculture and

reduced fallow periods have led to high labor costs especially in weed control. Shifts to

intensive upland cultivation of commercial crops have abetted erosion rates and loss of

biodiversity.

Limited access to markets and access to extension services lead farmers to rely on

subsistence farming and constrain diversification of farm commodities. There is also a

lack of access to important extension services such a vaccination of animals. This

makes farmers more vulnerable because many animals die early and the farmer loses

part of his /her safety nets.

Figure 1. The upland farm. The upland farm would usually consist of an area under fallow (background of left picture), the side slope (foreground of left picture) where uplands crops are raised, and the valley bottoms (right) where paddy rice is raised. Forests are important to the productivity of the farm (right). Each zone of the upland farm would require its own set of ecologically sound interventions.

1.2 How is climate change affecting farming in the uplands?

In addition to issues of land degradation, farmers are beginning to experience what could be the

effects of climate change in the upland areas. The effects of climate change could be drastic,

which could put them under the category of hazards (flash floods, landslides, etc.) or slow

acting, such as gradual changes in rainfall. Unless further data would prove otherwise, it may be


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noted that hazards are likely caused largely by land degradation due to local land use patterns

but abetted by extreme weather events that may be caused by climate change. Available

regional /country data indicate more intense rainfalls and a gradual increase in temperature

leading to high evaporation and evapo-transpiration rates. Floods and droughts will be expected

to occur more frequently.

Climate change exacerbates land degradation and its subsequent effects. Intense rains from

storm events increase the volume of water runoff and soil erosion. Late rains or premature end

of rains further reduces the already declining farm yields due to land degradation. Temperature

changes and very wet conditions due to climate change make plants and animals prone to

disease while water quality resulting from erosion and pollution affect the productivity of

fisheries and other living aquatic resources are also affected.

1.3 Given the complex link between farms, forest and water resources, what overall

approach is needed to address CC in upland areas?

Water is the central issue. Addressing climate change primarily deals with water. Either there

is too much of it (flooding) or too little of it (droughts). It also deals with the timing of water

availability i.e. available at the wrong time (delayed rainfall or premature end).

The degradation of forests, loss of top soil and overall biodiversity decline due to shifts to

intensive agriculture, contribute substantially to the vulnerability of upland farms to the effects of

climate change, and particularly to the action of water. With little forest left, there is little to hold

the water from cascading downhill, and farms become vulnerable to floods and landslides.

Also, aquifers and springs needed by farm households are not sufficiently replenished.

The remaining soils after erosion have poor organic matter content. It can retain only a small

amount of rain that falls on the ground which is often insufficient to support good plant growth.

Excessive erosion also causes sedimentation of rivers and affects aquatic habitats and fishery

yields.

Two vital sets of actions are needed.

There are various technical strategies that have been proposed to increase adaptive capacity of

farms to climate change. This would range from adjusting the planting time, diversifying is

species and varieties, constructing water ponds, etc.

In the case of Lao uplands, it is important that in addition to the aforementioned measure that

would bring immediate alleviation, farming communities would also need to invest time and

effort to arrest the further decline of the resource base (forests, soils, and water resources) and

in fact apply measures to regenerate them. Such measures may include better protection of

local forests, assisting forest regeneration setting up gully checks; and soil amelioration. It may

also involve the control of animal movements to protect young forest seedlings or controlling the

disposal of agricultural chemicals on waterways.


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One set of actions is not complete without the other. For instance, immediate action, say in the

form of improved, drought tolerant varieties is not sustainable if the soils continue to be

unproductive due to uncontrolled erosion. On the other hand, solely working on restorative

actions such as forest regeneration would be insensitive to the immediate food and cash needs

of the upland farm household.


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2.0 OVERVIEW OF VARIOUS STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS CLIMATE

CHANGE IN THE UPLANDS

Part 2 provides an overview of the various good practices and technologies for reducing

vulnerability and increasing resilience to climate change that individual upland farmers and

communities can do. This is essentially a long list of recommendations. Local extension teams

will need to determine which of the recommendations will be applicable in the locality, based on

a participatory appraisal of the situation, together with target communities.

The overview topics below represent particular themes in CCA in agriculture. We start with the

action needed for water and soil because these are the fundamental “platforms” upon which

food production is based. These are then followed by the topics that represent components of

farming systems such as crop production (annual and perennial) and livestock integration into

the farming systems.

Under each topic, a quick overview of the upland context is first provided. This is immediately

followed by a short summary of recommended sets of technical strategies. More details are

provided in separate CCTAMs with the same titles.

Figure 2. Three sets of interventions. At least three sets of interventions for climate change adaptation are proposed in upland farming. These are water management - example is gully check dam system (left); adaptation in crop production - example is soil moisture retention through mulching (center); and adaptation in small livestock production - an example would be supplementing free range with good nutrition from forages raised in the farm (right).

2.1 On-farm and community level water management

2.1.1 Upland context

As most farms are rainfed, and given the recent erratic behavior of rainfall, insufficiency of water

and the need to store it, is a fundamental concern. In other parts of the year, too much water


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generate large volumes of water runoff that often lead to the collapse of weirs and earth dams;

causes landslides, and posing a threat to life and property.

In terms of storing water, there are essentially three interdependent options. These are storing

surface water; recharging ground water; and increasing soil water holding capacity.

Conserving surface water may be done on a large scale (reservoir), medium scale

(village ponds) or at micro scale (farm ponds). In the uplands, weir construction is a

popular practice but they have been vulnerable to damage lately. On the other hand,

village ponds and farm ponds provide immediate sources of water but they usually

do not last during the dry months.

Ensuring availability of water from underground aquifers or groundwater represents a

second conservation method. It is not as popular in the uplands as it is in the

lowlands. But some farmers have begun using these.

A third source of water is soil moisture. Improving soil water holding capacity is

essential. If the soil has sufficient moisture after the first crop or rice, this condition

may enable the farmer to plant one more crop (usually upland crop) after the main

wet season crops.

2.1.2 Basic strategies

The adaptation measures are discussed in CCTAM # 3 entitled “On- farm and Community Level

Water Management” and are summarized into the following types:

Managing surface runoff in the farm. Some amount of runoff is important to

transport nutrient- rich, top soil to rice paddies in valley bottoms. But too much of it is

problematic. Because of the sloping character of upland farms, water conservation in

the uplands must deal foremost with water runoff. Depending on the steepness of

the slope, the key actions that can be done include: contour plowing; construction of

diversion canals at the topmost portion of the farm; soil conservation structures such

as the Natural Vegetative Strips; and small soil trenches (sediment traps cum

percolation pits).

Construction of farm ponds and water harvesting tanks. This involves improving

the design and management of ponds in order to reduce the rate of evaporation or

seepage so that the water can last longer to support a longer cropping period.

Construction of water harvesting tanks is also promoted in households using the GI or

tile roof as catchment.

Improving soil water holding capacity. Improve soil moisture by increasing the

organic matter in the soil. The actions include: mulching; green maturing with

leguminous cover crops especially with food value and minimum tillage and zero-

tillage.

Protecting the community natural water supply system. At the landscape level,

protect the forest cover in critical zones of the community watershed and recharge

groundwater resources. Check dams and micro percolation dams are some methods

that help recharge aquifers.


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2.2 Adaptation measures in crop production


In the upland farm context, there are three types of land forms to grow crops (annual and

perennial). These would be in (a) newly opened fallow lands which is usually a hilly side slope;

(b) in the valley bottom (the most fertile zone and where rice is grown); and (c) the fallow land

itself (planted to understory, shade-loving crops).

Adaptation strategies for crop production need to take into account the inherent characteristics

of each landform. Valley bottoms, for instance, being the most fertile and likely to have higher

soil moisture, can be the area where most crop diversification especially with annual crops

(planting one or two more crops after rice) is likely to succeed.

Given land limitations, the hilly side slopes on the other hand would be suitable to perennial tree

crops although special provisions need to be made to ensure resilience to water stress for

young seedlings.


The adaptation measures are discussed in CCTAM # 4 entitled “CCTAM in Crop Production”

and are summarized into the following types:

Soil fertility management: making the plants healthy to withstand moisture stress and

pest and disease among others ;

Innovative and nature based production systems: this involve low external input

production such as the systems for rice intensification or SRI

Use of climate smart varieties: using varieties that are drought resistant or tolerant to

submerged conditions.

Crop diversification: growing crops in addition to or as alternative to rice. These

crops are usually more tolerant to either too little or too much water;

Growing vegetables under harsh climatic conditions: vegetable growing both at

backyard level and market level that are more resilient to harsh conditions;

Growing fruit trees in the farm: using trees to help conserve soil, improve fertility

improve the microclimate and generate income;

Integrated pest management: preventing the pest situation from worsening due to

climatic aberrations and protect the farmer from accident ;

Post harvest handling: minimize further losses from already existing low production

levels;


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Timing of planting production systems: an early advisory system to enable a change

the time of planting of the major crop to adjust match the availability of rains.

2.3 Small livestock production


Traditional free range systems in the uplands allow farmers to address the nutritional needs of

livestock where labor is limited and commercial feeds are unaffordable. But this also

predisposes animals, especially young animals to disease. Added to this is crop damage The

traditional supplemental feeding with native green fodder is affected by decreasing access to

open, idle lands for grazing and the declining supply of green feeds during the dry months.

Women and children are increasingly spending more time to look for green feeds. The

challenge is how to help farmers transition from the free range system to the penned system but

without subjecting the animals to risks of low nutrition (where penned animals are not have

adequate access to feeds.) Containment helps in disease prevention and ensures that animal

waste is retained in the farm.


The key strategies are discussed in detail in CCTAM # 5 on Small Livestock Production and are

summarized below.

Improve livestock nutrition. To achieve their full growth potential and strengthen

resistance to diseases, livestock will be fully or partially penned and provided with

quality grasses and legumes grown on farm;

Improve animal health. Promote timely vaccination and preventive measures

particularly among young animals;

Housing and water. These protect livestock especially young animals from extreme

heat and wet conditions. This system also ensure that important livestock waste can be

easily collected for farm use;

Breeding management of native breeds. Support the preference for native breeds

because of higher adaptability; but achieve their potential through proper selection and

breeding management (e.g. avoid inbreeding, etc.).


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3.0 ENABLING THE COMMUNITY TO ACT ON THE EFFECTS OF

CLIMATE CHANGE

In Part 1, we learned about the nature of climate change adaptation in upland farming

conditions. In part 2, we obtained an overview of the wide range of strategies that may be

considered for recommendation to the communities that we serve.

In Part 3, we will learn about ways to enable the community to begin to understand and

proactively plan for climate change adaptation. This would be in addition to the coping

mechanisms they are already doing. Implementing the various steps under part 3 will require

the knowledge we gained in part 2.

CCA in agriculture would benefit much from community level consensus right at the start

because it involves a combination of farm level and landscape level actions. Five steps are

proposed to be incorporated in the current extension approach of the NAFES.

1. Help the community indentify and prioritize the hazards and changing climate

conditions that affect them;

2. Build community awareness on the different successful strategies

3. Facilitate decision making on what type of strategies to try out as a community or

thorough individual work;

4. Facilitate the implementation of priority actions through key farmers in demonstration

areas;

5. Facilitate monitoring, reflection and follow- on planning.

These steps have been partly based on the experience in other places working on community

based disaster risk management. These steps may be done together with personnel of the

District Government that deal with disaster risk management (DRM) concerns.

A joint local research and facilitation team (LRFT) may be created to facilitate the first three

steps of the five step process. Members of the team would include the local PAFO/DAFO

extension team, personnel of the local DRM office, local authorities, and key farmer leaders.

The 4th and 5th step may be facilitated solely by the local extension team itself. The following is a

detailed description of the specific steps.

3.1 Step 1: Help the community indentify and prioritize the hazards and changing climate

conditions that affect them (adapted from OXFAM, 2010).

This step would require sufficient time for preparation both for the local extension team and the

community. The local extension team would need to undertake preparatory work prior for the

conduct of a series of community meetings. These would include obtaining the support of local

authorities the local DRM office and village leaders to undergo the process, and reviewing

available secondary materials.


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The following are the specific sub- steps at the community level. Each sub step may require

between 1 to 2 hours of small group discussions among community representatives ensuring

that both gender is adequately represented. All the steps can be done in one day or one week

depending on the preference of the community and facilitator. The following are the sub-steps

that will be done by the community with the help of the facilitating team:

a) Prepare a simple community resource map showing the various natural resources of the

community Discuss the current situation of forests, soils and water resources, identifying

trends in deforestation, soil erosion and water supply. List down results of the discussions

on a flip chart and where possible reflect the key points on the community resource map.

Figure 3a. Examples of a community resource map. It helps the community inventory and

appreciate its diverse assets that need to be protected from degradation and climate change.

(Source: left: IAPAD, 2009; right: FAO, 2011)

b) Prepare a seasonal calendar to indicate the key livelihood activities of the community

(farming, NTFP gathering, off-farm employment, etc.) (The seasonal calendar will help the

community recall and appreciate the kind of livelihoods that are sensitive to hazards and

changing climate conditions.

Livelihood Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

FARM Activities

NTFP harvesting activities

Others

Figure 3b. Example of a livelihood calendar. It helps the community inventory it diverse

livelihood activities the time of year when could be vulnerable to sources of shocks such as

floods, disease outbreaks, etc.


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c) Prepare a simple community hazard map that would indicate the community’s resources and

the various threats to these resources. These simple maps will help the community recall

and appreciate the actual effects of natural hazards ad changing climate conditions.

Figure 3c. Example of a community hazard map. It indicates the various hazards and climatic

aberrations that threaten communities natural resources. This can use the community resource

map. (Source: left - IFRC, 2010; right - CARE, 2009)

d) Prepare a chart on changing climate pattern. This would indicate the community’s perception

on the changes in rainfall pattern and this will indicate how the climate has changed through

the years. The older members of the community will be important for this data.

Figure 3d. Example of monthly calendar showing changing climatic conditions. It helps the

community document the observations they make about changing climate patterns through the

years. ( Source: OXFAM, 2010)

e) Prepare a chart showing the various hazards and climate changes and how these particularly

affected the community (what livelihood was affected, when, where; and who were


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affected?). Also indicate in this table the various coping measures undertaken by community

members.

Figure 3e. Example of a chart on effects of hazards and climate change. It provides a quick

summary of hazards, and its effects on particular groups of people of the community (Source:

OXFAM 2010)

f) Prioritize the elements perceived to be at greatest risk due to hazards and climate change.

This step may draw on the results of the item (e) above especially the 2nd column (who are

most affected). In addition, the community will identify specific agricultural resources (e.g.

seedlings, livestock, etc.) that are at greatest risk.

Figure 3f. Example of a Prioritization Chart. This helps the community determine what or who is

most affected by the different hazards and changes in climate patterns. It is also somewhat

similar to the previous chart (Source: CARE, 2009)

To know more about the specific processes for conducting the Step 3.1 (a) to (f) above, please

refer to two highly recommended tool kits:

OXFAM, 2010. Participatory Capacity and Vulnerability Analysis: A Practitioner

Guide

CARE, 2009. Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis: A Handbook


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3.2 Step 2: Build community awareness on successful good practices and technologies

that may address the priority needs defined by the community. Based on the priorities set

by the community, the local extension team will review the CCTAMs and other reference

materials and in consultation with resource persons, would prepare a short list of adaptation

strategies to recommend for study by representatives of the community. This step will take

between 3 to 8 weeks especially if it will involve a visit to other communities to learn from their

experience.

a. Use of existing information materials or the development of new ones that are more

sensitive to local needs.

b. Where resources allow, provide opportunity for the target community to visit and learn

from other communities with promising CCA practice.

3.3 Step 3: Facilitate decision making on what type of strategies the community would

want to try out as a community or thorough individual work. This will take at least two one-

day sessions with the community leaders.

Based on the results of item 3.1 (f) “priority hazards and climate change”, as well as the results

of the exposure activities described in item 3.2 above, facilitate community decision on what

practices it would prefer to implement in the short and long term.

To the extent possible, identify priority practices and technologies in accordance to the two sets

of actions identified earlier in this CCTAM. The first set would be immediate short term action

such as varieties, timing of planting etc) that can bring immediate relief. The second set would

the measures to protect and rehabilitate the resource base (forest, soils, and water resources)

that ensure sustainability of adaptation actions. Under each set of actions there would be farm

level or community level undertakings.

3.4 Step 4: Facilitate the implementation of priority actions in demonstration farms or

demonstration areas. This will take at least one to two cropping seasons in the case of on farm

level adaptation actions. Community actions on the other hand that deal with protection or

rehabilitation of natural resources may take at least two to three years to start the process.

Identify and work with interested farmer volunteers to implement specific practices at the farm

level. Provide training of trainers (TOT) for volunteer farmers. Extension methods that are

specific to commodities (crops, livestock etc) are discussed in the subsequent CCTAM.

Various extension approaches may be adopted for promoting appropriate practices for

adaptation to climate change. The Lao Extension approach involving village extension workers

would be one. The farmer field school (FFS) may be used for specific practices where it has

been tried such as the IPM for rice and vegetables.


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Extension approaches need to take into consideration the role of women in the success of

agriculture and climate change adaptation for that matter. Extra effort is needed to reach out to

them. For instance, during the planning processes that involve group discussions, separate

groupings may be made for the women so that they would be confident to speak out. This

makes sure that their voice is heard. Women facilitators or women extension workers would

help.

Many of the adaption practices require additional work on the farm. In most cases women are

already performing many household and farm work. When introducing new practices, facilitators

are advised to help families appreciate the need to distribute new tasks a way that it does not

overburden the women folk

Promoting livestock vaccination is a practice that needs a good extension approach because it

is also dependent on the viability of vaccines when transported to remote upland areas. The

methods for conducting this approach are described in the existing manuals for village animal

veterinary workers. .

3.5 Step 5: Facilitate monitoring, reflection, and follow on planning. This will be parallel to

the actual implementation of adaptation actions and may take between one to two cropping

seasons or up to three years.

During the process of identifying the practices and technologies that will be implemented in the

community, there is a need to identify the indicators that the community would like to see as an

indication of relative success.

The local extension team may provide recommendations on what could be simple and locally

relevant indicators e.g. (reduction in cost of production inputs, reduced time for preparing feeds,

reduced mortality of young animals, etc.). These success indicators would guide both the

community and local extension team in monitoring progress and planning for next steps.

Results of the monitoring would be presented to the community regularly (every quarter), as well

as local authorities and other locally based agencies and NGOS.


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CONCLUSION

At the moment, it can be said that climate change by itself is not a major cause of current low

productivity in the uplands. More realistically, it can be said that it exacerbates the effects of

land degradation caused primarily by inherent natural limitations( high surface run off, high

leaching) and inappropriate land use practices.

To be effective, adaptation measures must include measures that provide immediate relief to

the farmer (e.g. use of varieties, timing of planting, etc.) and provides results in one cropping

season. At the same time, it must also include measures that protect and restore the capacity of

the resource base (forests, soils and water resources). Extension actions are needed both at

the farm level and at the community level.

This CCTAM provides an overview of the nature of CC adaptation measures in upland farming

conditions. This CCTAM is also complemented by other CCTAMs for specific themes relevant to

upland farming. These include water management (CCTAM #3), crops (CCTAM #4), and

livestock (CCTAM #5). It also provides the basic steps for enabling local authorities,

communities and key stakeholders to start to proactively plan to address climate change.


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Key References

AKP (Adaptation Knowledge Platform). 2011. Practitioners and Policy-makers Exchange on Climate Change Adaptation Frequently Asked Questions. http://www.climateadapt.asia/upload/publications/files/4dac0ae421361AKP-book_agricultureFAQWEB.pdf

CARE. 2009. Climate Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis: Handbook.

http://www.careclimatechange.org/cvca/CARE_CVCAHandbook.pdf GEF (Global Environment Facility). 2010. Project Information. Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Lao

PDR’s Agricultural and Land Management Policies, Plans and Programmes. FAO. 2007. Country Report on The State of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

in Lao PDR. http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1500e/Lao%20Peoples%20Democratic%20Republic.pdf

FAO. 2010. Climate Smart Agriculture: Policies, Practices, and Financing for Food Security

Adaptation and Mitigation. Rome Italy. http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/newsroom/docs/the-hague-conference-fao-paper.pdf

Foley, S. 2009. Growing Resilience: Adapting for Climate Change in Upland Laos. Main Report.

Norwegian Church Aid, Laos. IFRC. 2011. VCA Toolbox. http://www.ifrc.org/Global/Publications/disasters/vca/vca-toolbox-

en.pdf IAPAD. 2009. Resource Mapping. http://www.iapad.org/resource_mapping.htm IPCC. 2001. Third Assessment Report. Review of Community Based Vulnerability Assessment

Methods and Tools. Annex B. Glossaries. IWMI and SIda. 2010. Rethinking Agriculture in the Greater Mekong Subregion How to

sustainably meet food needs, enhance ecosystem services and cope with climate change. http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/Publications/Other/PDF/Summary-Rethinking_Agriculture_in_the_Greater_Mekong_Subregion.pdf

OXFAM. 2010. Oxfam Participatory Capacity & Vulnerability Analysis: A Practioner’s Guide SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation). 2008. Enhancing Agro-biodiversity in

Lao Uplands: Identifying and Utilizing Niche Habitats in Farm Landscapes. http://www.swiss-cooperation.admin.ch/mekong/ressources/resource_en_172250.pdf

http://www.climateadapt.asia/upload/publications/files/4dac0ae421361AKP-book_agricultureFAQWEB.pdf

http://www.climateadapt.asia/upload/publications/files/4dac0ae421361AKP-book_agricultureFAQWEB.pdf

http://www.careclimatechange.org/cvca/CARE_CVCAHandbook.pdf

http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1500e/Lao%20Peoples%20Democratic%20Republic.pdf

http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/newsroom/docs/the-hague-conference-fao-paper.pdf

http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/newsroom/docs/the-hague-conference-fao-paper.pdf

http://www.ifrc.org/Global/Publications/disasters/vca/vca-toolbox-en.pdf

http://www.ifrc.org/Global/Publications/disasters/vca/vca-toolbox-en.pdf

http://www.iapad.org/resource_mapping.htm

http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/Publications/Other/PDF/Summary-Rethinking_Agriculture_in_the_Greater_Mekong_Subregion.pdf

http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/Publications/Other/PDF/Summary-Rethinking_Agriculture_in_the_Greater_Mekong_Subregion.pdf

http://www.swiss-cooperation.admin.ch/mekong/ressources/resource_en_172250.pdf

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