Participatory Analysis Climate Witnesses with Brazilian smallholder coffee producers from Minas Gerais, Perdões, Pavão

Transcription

1 Participatory Analysis Climate Witnesses with Brazilian smallholder coffee producers from Minas Gerais, Perdões, Pavão Results I Intervention Recommendations I Next steps Contact: Coffee & Climate Mika Adler c/o EDE Consulting Am Sandtorpark 4 Coffee Plaza Hamburg Germany Author: Kerstin Linne Independent Consultant kers.linne@gmail.com October 2011

2 Background Between October 20 th and 21 st a two-day analysis was carried out with 25 smallholder coffee producers from Pavão, Minas Gerais, Brazil. This analysis took place within the framework of the Coffee & Climate initiative between Neumann Gruppe GmbH, Tchibo GmbH, Gustav Paulig Ltd, Löfbers Lila AB, Joh. Johannson Kaffe AS, Fondazione Guiseppe e Pericle Lavazza Onlus and the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The project aims to enable coffee smallholders to effectively respond to climate change. This goal is to be met via developing and testing a toolbox offering support for coffee producers to face climate change challenges. The project has an initial duration of 2.5 years (09/ /2013) and plans to work in four countries: Brazil, Guatemala, Tanzania and Vietnam. In the first year climate change impacts on coffee in these four countries, other intiatives that work in the same context and potential adaptation options were analyzed. Furthermore future scenarios to identify tendencies of climatic suitability to further produce coffee in the pilot regions are being developed. Brazil is the first country where the project starts to work on the ground. As climate change impacts differ in each region, according to the local vulnerabilities, a site-specific analysis should be carried out. To do so, a process developed within a Development Partnership between GIZ and Cafédirect plc, the so called Risk and Opportunity Analysis (ROA) 1 process, is carried out by the Coffee & Climate intitiave. This process combines scientific data with locally collected participatory information. The participatory analysis Climate Witnesses is the 5 th step of the ROA process. Results 1. Time Line The time line identifies natural events that influence the producers lives up to now and analyzes the frequency with which these events occur. 1 For further information:

3 Year Event Natural Cause / Climate Relation 1945 End of World War II No 1960 Heavy rains and hail storms Yes 1966 First coffee planting in the community No 1966 Coffee crisis influenced by the government resulting in burning of coffee stocks No 1970 Introduction of leaf rust in Brazil No 1975 Frost in Paraná Yes 1976 Drought Yes 1977 Financial support for coffee production by gov. No 1979 Frost in Minas Gerais loss of coffee production Yes 1984 Construction of community chapel No 1986 High coffee prices No / maybe partially 1988 Constitution No 1990 Inflation No 1991 Introduction of electricity in the community No 1995 Low coffee prices No / maybe partially 1997 Hail storms and severe drought Yes 1999 Heavy leaf rust Yes 2000 Late rains Yes 2002 Pest attack (cicada) Yes 2002 Improvement of agricultural technology No 2002 Introduction of PRONAF No 2003 Introduction of new coffee management system No 2004 Heavy rain during harvest Yes 2004 Gordo No 2005 Founding of the association No

4 2005 Changes in coffee flowering Yes 2006 Heavy leaf rust Yes 2007 Hail storms Yes 2007 Introduction of Forca Café No 2009 Acquisition of tractor, construction of water channels No 2009 Prolonged drought followed by heavy rains Yes 2010 Prolonged drought Yes 2011 Good harvest Yes 2011 Prolonged drought Yes These results show a strong increase in the frequency of climate related events after One has to take in mind that it is easier to remember events closer to today. However, also statistics confirm a higher frequency of climate related events on global scale in more recent years. This implies impacts on the agricultural production as well as on the livelihoods of the producers and their communities. 2. Inventory of Flora and Fauna This activity allows the producers to establish a rough inventory of their flora and fauna. The participants worked on four lists with the following topics: a. Trees and plants b. Animals and Birds c. Agricultural plants d. The coffee ecosystem Looking at the different species in relation to changes in their abundance the producers realised that their biodiversity is diminishing mainly due to human activities such as the expansion of agricultural production and pollution of the environment. However, some species could be identified that have increased or decreased in the area partly also due to changing climatic conditions: Ants: abundance has increased due to increasing temperatures and human activity

5 Lizards: abundance has increased due to increasing temperatures and human activity Mosca de chifre: appeared new in the region due to changes in temperatures Some birds (e.g. heron): disappeared in the region due to changes in climate and human activity Some weeds (e.g. Brachiaria SP): abundance increased due to changes in climate and human activity 3. Seasonal Calendar This activity looks at cyclical activities of the producers. The following aspects were considered: 1. Animals and Plants 2. Agriculture 3. Weather / Climate 4. Social events In the results only months where specific changes could be identified are listed: Month January February March Changes and effects January is becoming hotter February is becoming hotter Rains are getting heavier and they are less predictable Increased appearance of vector borne diseases (e.g. dengue) April August Rains are getting heavier and they are less predictable August is getting colder Increased numbers of ants

6 September Usually flowering of the coffee started in September, this year it only started in mid October Increased numbers of lizards December Leaf rust already starts to occur in December, it used to start in January; activities to control leaf rust therefore start earlier now The producers are perceiving changes in rain patterns as well as in temperatures. These changes can be summed up as follows: Higher temperatures in January and February Lower temperatures in August Stronger rainfall Irregular rainfall Less seasonality Less frost The main perceived impacts on their agricultural production are prolonged and increased pest and disease incidents and changes in flowering times. 4. Shared Values Identifying shared values enables developing a joint initiative carried by all producers and supports analyzing most urgent problems. The participants identified three main values which everyone sees the importance to conserve and work on: a. Soil b. Water (quantity and quality) c. Clean air 5. List of Problems After prioritising the cooperative s shared values the participants jointly identified the problems endangering these values. Mentioned among others were deforestation (though not taking place in the community), burning practices, waste, erosion and overuse of chemical fertilizer. For further analysis the following problems/risks were prioritized as most pressing in the region: Erosion / degraded areas Waste (and resulting pollution)

7 Application of inappropriate agricultural practices (such as burning and excessive use of agrochemicals) 6. Problem Analysis (Problem Tree) This activity aims at analyzing whether or not the prior identified problems are related to climate and changing climatic conditions and helps producers to understand the causes and effects of their problems better. The participants analyzed the prioritised problems and concluded the following: It was found, that erosion leads to infertile soils and decreasing water availability in the region. Therefore erosion is reducing the ecosystems resilience to confront climatic changes. With increasing temperatures and the occurrence of stronger rains, the problem of erosion will be enforced even further. Therefore it is considered a climate vulnerability. Although the producers did identify stronger rains as one of the changes in their local climate, they were not able to identify these stronger rains as one of the causes of erosion. Further analysis of the causes as well as sensitization of the producers might need to be considered in the further course of the project. Erosion was not directly linked to the problem of degraded areas, but in later on discussions, this turned out to be a related problem in the region. Therefore it was not analyzed in the activity of the Problem Tree, but for reflecting the whole discussion, it should be noted. The problem of waste is not caused by changes in climatic conditions. However, the participants identified resulting water pollution as well as pollution of soils to increase susceptibility of their ecosystems towards climatic changes. Therefore, waste was analyzed to lead towards climate vulnerabilities such as already polluted water resources, reduced water resources and polluted and potentially less fertile soils. The application of inappropriate agricultural practices was also identified to lead to climate vulnerabilities. Applying inappropriate farming methods leads to soil erosion and land degradation, siltation of rivers and eventually to a loss of local biodiversity.

8 Furthermore it causes inundation and flood waters. Thereby it is reducing the resilience of the ecosystems towards climatic changes. Therefore the identified problems can be categorised as follows: Erosion / degraded areas Climate vulnerability Waste Leading to climate vulnerabilities: Polluted water resources Reduced water resources Polluted / less fertile soils Inappropriate agricultural practices Leading to climate vulnerabilities: Soil erosion Land degredation Siltation of rivers Loss of local biodiversity 7. Solutions (Sun Ray Exercise) After analysing the prioritised problems and understanding their causes and effects the Sun Ray activity allows the producers to find their own solutions and break them down into manageable packages or steps to get from the problem to the solution. The producers came up with several ideas: Problem Solution Necessary Steps / Resources necessary Erosion Conserve and preserve riparian areas (APPs) Fence riparian areas Reforest with native species Support natural regeneration of the ecosystem

9 Access financial resources Application of good agricultural practices Technical assistance Sensitization Correct use of mulchers Plantations in appropriate areas Develop a sketch of the production area and the property Produce according to environmental laws Terracing Obtain necessary knowledge and machinery (GPS ) Build barriers to channel rain water Application of good practices in livestock Conserve pastures and avoid degradation (rotation plan) Keep animals from water bodies Control number of animals Waste pollution Claim better road conditions from public bodies Introduction of a recycling system Efficient waste collection system in the community Reduce and reuse Build channels to capture rain water Sensitization on waste separation at home level Separate waste collection Transport waste to appropriate recycling stations Collaborate with municipality to organize weekly collection of waste Organize the community via the association Buy only what is necessary Reduce the use of plastic bags Sensitization

10 Re-use existing boxes and bottles Use cooking oil to make soap Inappropriate agricultural practices Introduction of a return system for bottles of agrochemicals Environmental education at community level Conservation of natural resources Increase productivity Increase efficiency in production Improve technical assistance Access to credit Sensitization on proper grouping and cleaning of the bottles Define fixed dates for collection of the bottles Develop training session Training of work force Environmental education Training on correct use of agrochemicals Correct use of inputs, machinery and soils Adequate inputs Training of work force and administration Agricultural machinery Increase number of technical assistants Introduce a programme on technical assistance in the community Get an overview on possibilities and offers 8. Effective and feasible solutions (Options Assessment Table) After brainstorming for possible options these need to be analysed according to effectiveness and feasibility. After discussing these two criteria the participants prioritised the following options: Erosion Conserve and preserve riparian areas (APPs) Terracing Claim better road conditions from public bodies

11 Waste Efficient waste collection system in the community Introduction of a return system for bottles of agrochemicals Application of inappropriate agricultural practices Environmental education on community level Improve technical assistance (and maintain it in the long-run) Increase productivity and therefore financial returns 9. Action Plan As a result of this two-day session the findings were summarized in an Action Plan: Problem Solution Timeframe Resources Responsibilities Erosion Conserve and preserve Start now and continuous $ and other incentives, seedlings Producers, project C&C riparian areas (APPs) Terracing Start now and continuous Machinery, $ Producers, project C&C Waste (and resulting pollution) Claim better road conditions from public bodies Effective waste collection system in the community Start now Machinery, work force Municipality, Wellington 2 months Contact municipality Wagner (president of the community) Introduction of a return system for bottles of agrochemicals 6 months Salesperson Wagner Inappro- Environmental Start now and Discussion and training EMATER (Paulo),

12 priate education of continuous Wagner agricultural practices community level (e.g. burning, excessive use of agrochemicals) Improve technical assistance (and maintain it in the longrun) 06/2012 and continuous (currently technical assistance is ensured via Official agreement between EMATER and the municipality Adriano, Reizinho, project C&C EMATER up to 06/2012) Increase productivity Start now and continuous Technical assistance, $, inputs, machinery Producers, Project C&C (Patrik), EMATER and therefore financial (Paulo) returns This Action Plan is the final output of the two-day participatory analysis and serves as an important input for developing an adaptation strategy for the region. The adaptation strategy needs to be further defined together with key stakeholders and it needs to incorporate scientific findings on climate change impacts and potential adaptation options. Before carrying out this participatory analysis with representatives of the pilot groups in the other three pilot countries of the project it is advisable to: Carry out sensitization meetings on the project with the producers Carry out sensitization and potentially trainings on climate change issues

13 Train local extension staff on facilitating the group discussions throughout the two days Ensure interest and commitment of the pilot group to further participate in project activities Intervention recommendations Within the ROA process the participatory workshop is only one component. The results of this workshop with producer representatives need to be brought into a broader context considering scientific results, as summarized in the project s country portfolios elaborated by Jeremy Haggar and Kathleen Schepp, as well as the future scenarios developed by EMBRAPA. Developing the baseline for the region might bring up further information that needs to be considered. Furthermore these results need to be discussed with relevant local and regional, possibly national stakeholders to identify their ideas and potential areas for cooperation. Based on the current results of the project the author proposes to consider the following intervention areas for the pilot case of Brazil, Pavão the included adaptation measures are to be understood as examples and make no claim to be complete: Considering the results of the participatory analysis, the three identified intervention areas should be included in the adaptation strategy. However, the corresponding adaptation measures need further specification. Erosion: Conservation and preservation of riparian areas (APPs) Terracing Waste: Develop a feasible waste collection system for the community Inappropriate agricultural practices: Training and sensitization on community level (environmental education) Enhance efficiency in the production increase financial returns Develop a self-sustained system for technical assistance in the region Considering further intervention areas based on scientific findings and further discussions: Due to the expected increase in temperature and rainfall the project should consider and further discuss the following additional intervention areas: Enhancing framework conditions Access to financial resources: credit (for the implementation of adaptation measures) Payments for Environmental Services (create incentives for e.g. conserving water bodies; capturing or reducing CO2e (access to carbon markets)) Insurance schemes (e.g. index based weather insurances)

14 Data collection: Monitoring of temperature and rainfall in the local micro climate Connect the producers with local or regional meteorological stations Pests and diseases: Integrated pest management Water management: Avoid water pollution Consider water harvesting mechanisms (although more precipitation is expected, increasing temperatures might balance this increase (e.g. through increased evapotranspiration); recently experienced droughts and the distribution of rainfalls might increase the need of water throughout some periods of the year) Shade management (arborização: 20 30% shade): Evaluate potential for introducing shade (to regulate temperatures in the coffee plots) Set up demonstration plots (at e.g. NKG Fazenda da Lagoa) Degraded soils: Cover crops Diversification: Of the production system Of the producers income Proposed next steps To further advance in the implementation of the Coffee & Climate Initiative in Brazil the author proposes the following next steps: Summarize feedback of the project launch planned for October 24 th where the results of the producers will be presented and add necessary intervention areas and adaptation measures to the herein presented participatory results Identify which organization (or person) can support regarding specific intervention areas and the implementation of specific adaptation measures (public, private, civil society, standard bodies) Identify the key stakeholders for the implementation of the project and form an advisory board / operational committee Together with the producers and key stakeholders agree on intervention areas and adaptation measures for the Brazilian pilot jointly develop the adaptation strategy Ensure commitment of the producers to the project (via a Memorandum of Understanding?) Calculate necessary budget for each intervention area and adaptation measure and check against available budget Communicate about budget available for field implementation and identify intervention areas where additional funding will be necessary ensure transparency

15 Develop a baseline Develop an operational plan for the implementation of the adaptation strategy Implement and monitor according to the operational plan If applicable: identify further potential donors If applicable: develop project proposals for potential donors