Impacts of Climate Change on Crop Production in Bolivia and Peru

Abstract

For many developing countries, agriculture is the cornerstone of their economy. Whilst extreme weather events are an accepted phenomenon in some Latin American countries, others such as Bolivia and Peru are not so used to their apparently increasing frequency. Developing new policies and strategies to cope with climate change and its associated extreme events therefore requires robust knowledge on the reported impacts, consequences and implications. This paper presents the findings from a systematic review of published evidence on the impacts of climate change on cropping systems and rural livelihoods across a range of agricultural and socio-technical dimensions. Adaptation measures need to consider not only the weather and physical dimensions of climate change, but also its social consequences. Factors influencing agriculture, including water resource impacts, crop profitability, environmental constraints, social and political transformations, and traditional knowledge and practices, were identifed and reviewed to provide a comprehensive assessment of these key aspects, which are highly relevant to the region.