Climate Change: Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions

IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 6 (2009) 412022

IOP Publishing
doi:10.1088/1755-1307/6/1/412022

P41.12
Adaptation in agricultural systems to climate change in highlands of the Andes
Carlos Gomez(1), M Fernandez(1), M Garcia(2)
(1) Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Department of Nutrition, Lima, Peru
(2) University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Agriculture constitutes the most important economic sector in the Andes which future prospect in relation to
global environment change is problematic. Climatic changes have detrimental influences on food production
since variations in temperature, irregularity of precipitation and the presence of frost and droughts increase
the pressure on agrarian resources and reduce crops and livestock productivity. It has also been
demonstrated using predictive tools that those changes will drive modification in the vegetative cover and
the use of grazing land affecting the carbon, nitrogen and water cycles, the stability of mountain slopes and
in general household economies. We have identified during 2007 using participatory tools the main social
and economic drivers for progress in a representative sample (6) of communities in the Central Andes of
Peru. As result of this work few opportunities have been identified there in order to improve poverty
situation. Two main constraints are the dry season and occurrence of frost events both being accentuated due
to global climatic change. However little recognition of this was identified among farmers This being
complicated by problems in property of land and the small size of productive units. This will make difficult
in the Andes to face global change effects. The main productive sector in the highlands is livestock. In this
case, Methane from enteric fermentation and manure emissions of ruminants are also the main contributors
to global warming and increased in Peru by 24.8 and 22.3 % respectively comparing to data of 1994
(Garcia et al, 2007). Cattle (64.3%) are the larger contributors to total methane emissions followed by sheep
(17.3%). The high methane emissions in the highlands are mainly due to poor quality of pasture/forage (high
fiber and low nitrogen content) In contrast, diets for cattle of the coast have lower fiber content and higher
rates of digestion (grain and corn forage) producing less methane emissions. According to economic
evaluation (Gomez et al 2008), cattle units located in the coast have a higher cost of milk production than in
the highlands but with higher entrepreneurial profit. This coastal dairy production system generates less
methane emissions per unit of milk produced. Strategies than improve quality of pasture/forage in the
highland regions could allow more milk with less methane emission comparable to coastal units In addition
it has been identified that the existing cattle criollo genotype has potential for a large increase of
productivity (Bartl et al, 2008) This proposition could be supported by development projects funded with
resources derived from Kyoto protocol. It is being discussed how climate change will affect food security
through a direct effect on food production and indirect consequences on purchasing power (Garcia et al
2008). In order to adapt and to face the probable consequences; two levels of interventions have been
identified, using participatory methodology, those improving the capacity of water storage and irrigation
systems and the modification of agriculture and livestock technology better suited for the situation. The
possibility of this adaptation strategies being applied in the Andes and the time frame for implementation are
being discussed both from the biophysical and socioeconomic aspects.
References
Bartl K., Gmez C., Aufdermauer T., Garcia M., Kreuzer M., Hess H.D. and. Wettstein H.-R. 2008. Effect of diet type on
performance and metabolic traits of Peruvian local and introduced cow types kept at 200 and 3,600 m of altitude. Accepted by
Livestock Science. Garcia M., Malpartida E. and Gomez C.A. 2007. Estimate of Methane Emissions - Enteric fermentation and
manure management - from livestock in Peru. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture. Vol. 48. Issue: 1 - 2. Garca M.,
Salazar I. and Gmez C. 2008. Food Security and global environment change in the Andes of Peru. GECAFS Conference.
Oxford. April, 2 4. Gmez, C. ; Garcia O.; Fernandez M. and Garcia M. 2008. Methane emissions from enteric fermentation
of representative dairies in Peru in relation to economic performance. Poster presented at IFCN Dairy Report 2008, International
Farm Comparison Network, IFCN Dairy Research Center, Kiel.

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