Extreme vulnerability of smallholder farmers to agricultural risks and climate change in Madagascar

TLDR

Smallholder farmers in Madagascar, like those across the tropics, face numerous risks—including pests, disease, and extreme weather—that threaten crop yields and food security, and climate change is expected to exacerbate these vulnerabilities. The study surveyed 600 Malagasy households to assess farmers’ vulnerability, coping mechanisms, and adaptation needs. Surveys of 600 households were used to collect data on vulnerability, coping strategies, and adaptation requirements. The survey revealed that existing coping strategies are inadequate, few farmers have adapted to climate change due to limited resources, and urgent technical, financial, and institutional support is required to enhance food security and resilience.

Abstract

Across the tropics, smallholder farmers already face numerous risks to agricultural production. Climate change is expected to disproportionately affect smallholder farmers and make their livelihoods even more precarious; however, there is limited information on their overall vulnerability and adaptation needs. We conducted surveys of 600 households in Madagascar to characterize the vulnerability of smallholder farmers, identify how farmers cope with risks and explore what strategies are needed to help them adapt to climate change. Malagasy farmers are particularly vulnerable to any shocks to their agricultural system owing to their high dependence on agriculture for their livelihoods, chronic food insecurity, physical isolation and lack of access to formal safety nets. Farmers are frequently exposed to pest and disease outbreaks and extreme weather events (particularly cyclones), which cause significant crop and income losses and exacerbate food insecurity. Although farmers use a variety of risk-coping strategies, these are insufficient to prevent them from remaining food insecure. Few farmers have adjusted their farming strategies in response to climate change, owing to limited resources and capacity. Urgent technical, financial and institutional support is needed to improve the agricultural production and food security of Malagasy farmers and make their livelihoods resilient to climate change.