NORTH-SOUTH CENTRE - ETH - North-South Centre North-South ...

Farmers’ responses to climate change in
northern and central areas of Côte d’Ivoire
As most developing countries in Africa, Côte d’Ivoire experiences
an increase in climatic variability with a reduction of
up to 28% in rainfall and an increase in temperature since
the late 1960s. Consequently, the dry season is getting
longer both in the northern and central part of the country.
This aggravates the already existing water shortage
problems, which in turn severely affect both food crops
and livestock. Therefore, this project aims at analysing the
farmers’ decision-making processes related to climate
change, and their risk management strategies when faced
with negative impacts of climate change. Furthermore,
we will investigate farmers’ perception of climate change
and their adaptation behaviour taking into account: (i) the
institutional context in Côte d‘Ivoire, (ii) the socio-economic
and market conditions, as well as (iii) individual factors such
as values and climate risks perceptions.
We are identifying, analysing, and assessing:
the personal decision field of farmers regarding farm
management;
the farmers’ behaviour related to uncertainties of
climate change;
the relevant determinants of the decision behaviour
of farmers leading to the adoption of certain adaptation
strategies – with a special emphasis on water
shortages;
the institutional context regarding climate change
and food security including the interplay between the
relevant institutions and farmers;
the adaptation strategies and the necessary conditions,
which would lead to an active response to climate
change by farmers;
the feasibility of these adaptation strategies;
the factors which prevent farmers from participating
in adaptation strategies.
We will collect the data through qualitative interviews,
focus groups and surveys. The data analysis will be carried
out by using both common statistical tools and structural
equation modelling. Based on the results we will then
elaborate adaptation strategies to climate change that are
feasible and acceptable. We will formulate recommendations
for a successful implementation of these adaptation
measures strategies. Finally, we will make suggestions on
how to transfer this knowledge to the stakeholders.
Research fellow
Hermann Daisy N’nhon Comoé, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
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Supervisors
Bernard Lehmann, Aysel Tikir and Michel Dumondel,
ETH Zurich, Switzerland;
Dao Daouda, CSRS, Côte d’Ivoire
Collaborators
Bassirou Bonfoh, CSRS, Côte d’Ivoire;
Marcel Tanner, STI, Switzerland
Duration
October 2009 – January 2013
Capacity development
Research fellowships
Interview with livestock sellers, Côte d’Ivoire