Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture for Enhanced Recovery and Sustainability of Highlands

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Impact, outcome and outputs: The proposed TA aims to reduce vulnerability and enhance adaptive capacity of highland communities and ecosystems to cope with current and projected climate change impacts. The TA is aligned with the following impact: agricultural competitiveness in highlands improved. The TA will have the following outcome: enabling environment for adoption of climate-smart agriculture in project areas enhanced. The TA has four outputs as listed below.Output 1: Capacity to assess climate change vulnerability of highland agriculture improved. Key activities include: (i) determine factors contributing to climate change vulnerability based on consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including ethnic communities; (ii) analyze existing baseline data, and identify capacity needs and gaps on vulnerability in different subsectors of agriculture; (iii) equitably strengthen capacity of local government staff, on data collection and methods of climate change vulnerability assessment; (iv) assess climate change vulnerability and impacts under current and future climate scenarios; and (v) prepare a guidance manual on climate change vulnerability assessment in highlands.Output 2: Gender-responsive, climate-smart agricultural practices prioritized and demonstrated. This output will: (i) prepare an inventory of gender-responsive CSA practices for the highlands and conduct multi-criteria assessment with stakeholders, including female and male farmers, private sector, and government staff to prioritize CSA practices; (ii) conduct cost-benefit analysis of at least three priority CSA practices; (iii) demonstrate at least two CSA practices in target area (Bua Yai sub-district, Na Noi district, Nan Province); (iv) build capacity of stakeholders on CSA and prepare a roadmap for an inclusive climate-friendly agribusiness investment project for Nan Province in collaboration with the private sector; and (v) prepare knowledge products on CSA demonstration process and the most appropriate CSA practices for the highlands.Output 3: Agricultural product quality, value addition, and market linkages enhanced. This output will: (i) identify priority highland agri-food products for quality and safety improvement and value addition (e.g., processing, packaging, branding) by the private sector; (ii) build capacity of local communities in an inclusive manner, on grower certification schemes (e.g., participatory guarantee system), organic farming, and good agricultural practices; (iii) train local communities (encouraging the equitable participation of female and male farmers) and the private sector on agri-food quality and safety improvement and value addition; (iv) demonstrate the application of digital technologies for traceability of agri-food products; and (v) develop knowledge products on grower certification schemes, quality and safety enhancement, and value addition.Output 4: Capacity of local governments and communities to address climate change strengthened. This output will: (i) train staff of local governments on integrating climate change concerns in agricultural and development plans at district- and provincial-levels; (ii) raise awareness among female and male farmers, youth, nongovernment organizations, and the private sector on agricultural adaptation and mitigation measures, and alternate livelihood options (e.g., ecotourism, non-timber forest products such as medicinal plants, honey processing, handicrafts); (iii) conduct field visits to promote farmer-to-farmer learning from demonstration sites; (iv) prepare knowledge products, including a video, on CSA demonstrations and alternate livelihood options; and (v) organize an international workshop on CSA to disseminate the TA findings.