Agricultural adaptation to multiple stressors in a climate change context

Bassari farmers in southeastern Senegal are adapting to multiple stressors—including climate change, market integration, and cultural shifts—but these adaptations often come with significant trade-offs that may limit long-term sustainability. The study found that while strategies like crop diversification and plot relocation help mitigate challenges such as reduced precipitation and increased crop mortality, they also introduce economic, social, and environmental costs. Women and poorer households bear the brunt of these burdens, highlighting disparities in adaptation outcomes. Conducted through participant observation and 47 semi-structured interviews, this research underscores the need for adaptive strategies that address not only climate change but also broader socio-economic and cultural dynamics to ensure equitable and sustainable agricultural resilience.

Porcuna-Ferrer, A., Guillerminet, T., Klappoth, B., & Schlingmann, A. (2023). Agricultural adaptation to multiple stressors in a climate change context. Routledge Handbook of Climate Change Impacts on Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, 227–243. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003356837-18