Publications

Helping smallholder farmers mitigate climate change

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Key messages
- Smallholder farmers can contribute significantly to climate change mitigation but will need incentives to adapt their practices. - Incentives from selling carbon credits are limited by low returns to farmers, high transaction costs, and the need for farmers to invest in mitigation activities long before they receive payments. - Improved food security, economic benefits and adaptation to climate change are more fundamental incentives that should accompany mitigation. - Designing agricultural investment and policy to provide up-front finance and longer term rewards for mitigation practices will help reach larger numbers of farmers than specialized mitigation interventions.

Citation

Wollenberg E, Higman S, Seeberg-Elverfeldt C, Neely C, Tapio-Bistrom M.-L, Neufeldt H. 2012. Helping smallholder farmers mitigate climate change. CCAFS Policy Brief 5. Copenhagen, Denmark: CCAFS.

Authors

  • Wollenberg, Eva K.
  • Higman S
  • Seeberg-Elverfeldt, C
  • Neely, Constance
  • Tapio-Bistrom, M.L.
  • Neufeldt, Henry