Building Farming Resilience with Climate-Smart Intervention
Donovan Campbell and Shaneica Lester are co-authors of “Building Resilience in Jamaica’s Farming Communities: Insights From a Climate-Smart Intervention,” which won top prize in the 2023 Case Studies in the Environment Prize Competition. In this post they sit down with CSE Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Bernstein to discuss their work.
Through numerous training sessions and workshops, we equipped 458 farmers with modern farming techniques, introduced new technologies and demonstrated the growth of drought-resistant crops. The case of Peckham shows that rural communities and livelihoods can be transformed into more resilient entities that are better prepared to adapt to climate impacts by focusing on knowledge transfer, better resource management, and livelihood diversification.
JB: Can you talk a little bit about the case itself, and what you found during your research?
DC/SL: The case of Peckham highlights efforts to build resilience in a rural farming community, particularly in the context of disaster risk reduction and sustainable livelihoods. Our research prioritized a climate-smart agriculture (CSA) approach involving multiple stakeholders to reduce farmer’s vulnerability to the negative impacts of climate change on their livelihoods and food security. We collected data through the Livelihood Baseline Assessment (LBA) Toolkit and community engagement surveys (CES), which helped us to understand the community's exposure and sensitivity to natural hazards and the strategies farmers use to cope. We also carried out capacity-building workshops to empower farmers and boost agricultural resilience within the community.
Agriculture is the community's primary source of income, and our findings show that climate-related hazards, like drought, landslides, pest infestation and hurricanes, severely impact farmers' agricultural output. Water shortages and reduced productivity due to extended periods of drought pose the greatest threat to their livelihood. Regarding coping mechanisms, we found that most farmers were reactive. Farmers often relied on local knowledge to deal with immediate impacts, and most addressed the damage only after the hazards occurred, leaving them vulnerable to repeated losses and damages. Therefore, we emphasized empowerment and transformational adaptation so farmers can be more proactive and climate-smart in responding to these multi-hazards.
Through numerous training sessions and workshops, we equipped 458 farmers with modern farming techniques, introduced new technologies and demonstrated the growth of drought-resistant crops. The case of Peckham shows that rural communities and livelihoods can be transformed into more resilient entities that are better prepared to adapt to climate impacts by focusing on knowledge transfer, better resource management, and livelihood diversification.
JB: What do you hope readers take away from your manuscript, especially when it comes to climate resilience for rural farmers?
DC/SL: We hope readers understand the importance of a holistic and integrated approach to building climate resilience for rural farmers. It’s not just about improving agricultural practices but also addressing interlinked challenges like water scarcity, land degradation, and food insecurity. By tackling these issues, rural communities can strengthen their resilience and reduce vulnerability to current and future climate and economic shocks.
Creating an environment where local, technical, and scientific knowledge can be shared and supported by technology is also crucial for building resilience. Farmers need to be provided with the knowledge, tools, and resources to anticipate, mitigate and recover from the impacts of climate change. They recognize this need and are willing to expand their understanding beyond traditional practices to make informed decisions that secure their livelihoods.
Lastly, we hope readers see the potential to scale up and replicate these interventions in other rural communities facing similar challenges. As global food security becomes more urgent, this case demonstrates how rural farming can become a dynamic and resilient enterprise.
JB: What drew you to submit your manuscript to Case Studies in the Environment?
DC/SL: We chose Case Studies in the Environment because the project’s objectives and research design align closely with the journal's focus on environmental issues and pedagogy. Peckham’s experience with climate hazards and the use of a climate-smart agriculture approach for intervention fit well within the journal’s scope. Additionally, the journal reaches a diverse audience—educators, students, environmental professionals, and policymakers—who can all benefit from the lessons we learned in Peckham about building resilience for rural farmers.
The journal serves as a platform for us to contribute to a growing body of knowledge that informs future research and practical applications. It allows the case to influence broader discussions on vulnerability and resilience-building for rural livelihoods in the context of climate change.
JB: How do you think educators could use this case study in the classroom? Do you have any reflections on what is most effective? What resonates most with students, and what do they take away from the lesson?
DC/SL: The Peckham case study is a valuable resource for educators aiming to engage students with critical environmental and social issues. Its practical application, empirical data, and interdisciplinary approach make it highly effective for classroom use. By exploring climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and community-based adaptation strategies, students can connect Peckham's specific challenges to broader global discussions on food security and climate change.
This case study helps students move beyond theory by demonstrating how concepts such as disaster risk management and climate adaptation are applied in real-world contexts. In the classroom, educators can engage students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills by having them analyze Peckham's climate challenges, evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of the different climate-smart agricultural interventions, and propose their own solutions. Overall, students should leave with a clearer sense of the interconnections between pressing global challenges and the importance of capacity-building and community-driven solutions in resilience and sustainability.
Case Studies in the Environment is a journal of peer-reviewed case study articles and case study pedagogy articles. The journal informs faculty, students, researchers, educators, professionals, and policymakers on case studies and best practices in the environmental sciences and studies.