Climate Change and Gender: Perspectives from Bean Voyage's Producers
Climate crisis threatens the viability of agriculture, food system, and the livelihoods.
Women, are often found to be more prone to risks of climate change because women face challenges accessing funding and other forms of support to mitigate the risks.
In 2019, we hosted a workshop with Rosa Vasquez from @larutadelclima on climate change and actions. In the workshop, participants shared the impacts of climate change on their farms.
Many of our participants were the 2nd, 3rd or 4th generation on the same farm, having had their entire harvest cycle determined by the weather patterns for GENERATIONS.
Consequently, their ability to notice the impact of climate change was nothing compared to some of us living mostly in city areas! (Many know, by heart, their harvest cycle, when to fertilize, etc., based on the weather patterns!!)
During the workshop, we also discussed challenges in implementing the mitigation/adaptation techniques, and mapped local actors (pictured).
Last month, our very own @abhinav_khanal participated on global roundtable discussion on climate action with @oneyoungworld.
We are honored to have had the opportunity to amplify the stories that our producer partners shared with us at this roundtable- to shed light on the specific challenges that smallholder women producers face due to the climate crisis and call for a concrete action for climate crisis.
Note: rough translation to the images (effects, challenges and solutions shared by the producer participants) from the workshop is provided in the comment section!
The effects of climate change shared in the workshop are:
Appearance of new diseases and pests (Roya, Antracnosis)
Marked climatic events (droughts)
Fluctuation/decrease in harvest (productivity of the farm)
Irregular flowering season
Effects of rain on harvest
Planning for agricultural labor
Migration of species
Death of species
Change in temperature
Availability of water sources
Change in soil use/soil nutrient due to erosion, etc.
Economy
High economic investment required to maintain the profitability of the farm;
Lack of training
Some region not having institutional support in the region
Some of proposed solutions
Create a microclimate - create agroforestry with shade (bio-diversification), wind blockers, and barriers to prevent erosion.
Institutional support to provide training and *provide follow-up* on implementation of the climate change mitigation and adaptation techniques.
Social support to raise awareness within the neighborhood so that not only one farm adapts it but everyone understands the benefits and implement them.
Institutional support that provides finance to implement clean energy (self-sufficient).
Photos - @sunghee.t
