Climate Resilience: Flores Coffee Farmers’ Adaptive Journey – CoffeeTalk

Coffee farmers in Flores, Indonesia, face growing challenges from climate impacts such as drought and flooding, which are compounded by factors such as soil degradation, land-use change, and evolving social dynamics. A study on an ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) project in Flores demonstrated that diverse knowledge systems can be crucial for overcoming these challenges. When adaptation interventions recognize the value of both traditional ecological knowledge and western science, they can become more locally relevant and effective.

Ecosystem-based adaptation projects that do not recognize and tackle cultural, economic, and infrastructural barriers will lead to limited uptake of adaptive practices and become cost-ineffective, or even lead to maladaptive outcomes that could deepen pre-existing inequalities. Monitoring, evaluation, and learning play important roles in ensuring that insights from the ground are captured and reflected in future implementation.

Farmers are increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts, as their livelihoods depend on climate stability and natural resources. Effective adaptation is vital for farmers’ livelihoods and food security. EbA is promoted to boost farmers’ capacity to cope with hazards and unpredictable weather while delivering nature-positive outcomes. This brief focuses on the implementation of ecosystem-based adaptation at the interface between science and action.

The field visit to monitor the progress and outcomes of an EbA-Enhanced Climate Field School (the EECCLiRe project 2023-2025) with coffee-producing farmers in Ruteng, Manggarai Regency, and Bajawa, Ngada Regency in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, aimed to help them adapt by integrating ecosystem-based adaptation principles, agroforestry, and climate information into climate field schools for coffee-producing farmers. The findings underscore the importance of sensitivity to not only ecological but also social, economic, cultural, and political contexts in designing and implementing ecosystem-based adaptation.

The impacts of climate change on coffee farming in Flores are evident in the everyday experience of farmers, extension workers, and local organizations in the fields, and have caused substantial disruption to coffee production systems. Other drivers of vulnerability to such impacts include environmental degradation, development trends, and social dynamics.

Soil degradation in many coffee farms in Flores, particularly in Ruteng, results in declining nutrient levels in soil, negatively affecting plant health and reducing coffee yields. Ageing shade trees and coffee plants also contribute to the decline in overall productivity.

Reduction of agricultural land availability for coffee farming has drastically reduced, with urban expansion and infrastructure projects encroachment on agricultural land, increasing commercial demands, and livelihood pressures leading farmers to convert land from coffee plantations to horticulture. By addressing these challenges, farmers can better adapt to climate change and ensure the sustainability of their livelihoods and the future of Flores coffee.

The shifts in labor and household dynamics have significantly impacted farms’ capacity to adapt to climate change. Young people are more likely to leave farms and seek alternative livelihoods, leaving women to take care of farms while men migrate or find jobs outside the community. This results in some farming households not having enough farm labour and incurring additional costs to hire workers, while women can be overburdened by carrying out both care work and farm work that is new to them.

To adapt to climate change, it is essential to respect and understand the value of diverse knowledge systems and recognize traditional knowledge as a legitimate and vital source of knowledge. Traditional knowledge encompasses ecological insights and practices passed down through generations, such as sustainable practices for managing soil fertility, pests and diseases, and biodiversity through agroforestry, nature-based practices, or the timing of agricultural activities based on seasonal cycles and environmental cues. However, the impacts of climate change are challenging the relevance of some traditional practices.

Western science offers several opportunities for farmers to recognize the value of western science in explaining how traditional practices work and why they may no longer apply under current climatic conditions. For example, daily and weekly weather forecasts can help farmers make more precise decisions about planting and harvesting times than traditional calendars may allow. Practical knowledge offered by modern science can be particularly valuable for new farmers, including young people and women who inherit farms. Some new farmers reported that the Climate Field School has helped them appreciate the value of both traditional and modern perspectives through learning scientific explanations behind traditional farming practices that have been passed down to them without explanation.

However, integrating knowledge systems for ecosystem-based adaptation can be challenging due to tensions between the two systems. Financial factors, limited access to essential tools and information, along with gender and generational dynamics, complicate the adoption of new practices. Tensions between knowledge systems include spiritual beliefs and emotional attachments, which can be a particular source of tension for Flores farmers.

Access to easy-to-understand and actionable climate information is crucial for effective climate adaptation. The EECCLiRe project connects farmers to the latest weather information from the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) through the WhatsApp application. However, services that farmers rely on to deliver timely weather forecasts and other critical information, including last-mile infrastructure such as smartphones and stable internet connections, are beyond the control of the project. Many rural areas lack this infrastructure, creating a barrier to accessing information.

Addressing these infrastructure needs is vital for supporting farmers in adopting new practices and improving their resilience to climate change. It also helps to mitigate the risk that adaptive interventions will deepen inequality, in situations where better-off farmers have more access to resources to adopt adaptive practices.

Gender dynamics and generational differences play a significant role in adopting new knowledge and practices among farmers. Women are more open to new knowledge and are more likely to stay until the end of a training program and apply new farming practices. However, men often remain the decision-makers and primary beneficiaries of training and interventions, limiting the impact of new knowledge on actual farming practice. In the context of increasing mobility and migration in Flores, women are left in charge of the fields as men find jobs outside of their villages on a seasonal basis. Thus, adaptation requires ensuring family members have adequate access to information and resources to adapt to climate change while maintaining coffee production.

Younger farmers with higher education and access to information are also more receptive to new technologies and practices but are less likely to continue farming due to the allure of alternative livelihoods in urban areas. Two young men described that while they appreciate the importance of coffee farming in their culture and ancestral roots, its precarious income makes it less appealing than non-agricultural livelihoods. Young farmers also reflected that talking to their elders and participating in the kind of training offered at the Climate Field School gives them more confidence in agriculture. Yet, as the next generation, they remain uncertain about continuing small-scale farming like their parents, which is a potential barrier for younger farmers to invest in adapting their farming practices.

The insights gained from the ecosystem-based adaptation project EECCLiRe in Flores highlight the need to recognize and respect diverse knowledge systems to reduce climate vulnerability among farmers. Adaptation approaches, including ecosystem-based practices, must consider not only advanced scientific evidence but also traditional knowledge to arrive at best practices that are actionable and locally and culturally relevant. Additionally, it is important to recognize and address financial, cultural, economic, and infrastructural barriers, as well as social dynamics that hinder the transition to climate-resilient practices.

Investment in rural infrastructure, tools, and accessible information will empower communities to make informed decisions. Diverse income sources and cash assistance can play an important role in both maintaining beneficial traditional practices and transitioning to modern approaches. Gender-sensitive and youth-focused approaches must be prioritized to enhance participation and engagement in climate adaptation efforts.

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