Small-holder farmers in 12 countries were surveyed about changes made to their practices and the reasons for those changes. Weather information was found to be significantly associated with changes in 3 of the 4 regions surveyed. The reasons for changes varied across regions and included adopting improved varieties, adjusting timing, improving land management, and using more fertilizer. While most climate adaptation research has focused on temperate areas, the survey found major impacts in tropical locations as well. The document concludes that climate information is one factor among many that influence farmers' decisions to change practices and that local context is essential for developing effective climate adaptation and mitigation policies.

1. Climate Information for the Local
Decision-Maker
R. DeFries
Columbia University, New York

2. A mismatch in scales
(DeFries et al., 2012)

3. Baseline household survey from CCAFS
(Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security)
4000 households in 12 countries
(Wood et al., in review, Global Environmental Change)

4. Weather information is significantly associated with
change in 3 of 4 regions
Climate/weather is one among many reasons that
small-holder farmers report change in practices
(Wood et al., in review)

5. Reasons for change vary across regions
Types of change: Improved varieties, timing, land management, fertilizer

6. Most research on climate adaptation done in
temperate locations although major impacts in tropics
Author Institution country
1
2-4
5-10
10+
(Jain et al., in prep)
Study country

7. • Climate and weather information is one of many
reasons why farmers make changes. Local
context essential to formulate policies for
climate adaptation and mitigation.
• Research framework needs to include long term
outcomes and impacts of national/ international
policies