The importance of programs for family farmers in drought periods and in face of the need to adapt to climate change in the Brazilian Semiarid region

Abstract

Over the years the semiarid region has been the target of a transition from public policies aimed at combating drought to policies based on coexistence with the semiarid region. Based on this paradigm, policies have been developed at various levels to support the most vulnerable family farmers. Nevertheless, given climate change projections in the region, there is a strong need for a better understanding of climate perceptions, their impact on production, and the adjustments undertaken, to identify the main vulnerabilities and adaptation processes that can be fostered by those policies. Based on this, through qualitative interviews, we aimed to understand the perception of these topics by 54 dryland family farmers in the sub medium São Francisco Region. In general, most interviewees reported perceptions of climate change over the past 15-20 years, as well as concerns about the future climate. The last drought (2011-2018) resulted in production losses, which mostly led to reactive adjustments to events. Given the statements, it was observed that there is a perception of the need for planning, so that adaptation alternatives prior to the impacts can be carried out. However, several challenges limit the development of a culture of adaptation, including those related to the use and limitations of public policies. Finally, it discusses the need to update some strategies promoted by the paradigm of Living with the Semiarid to incorporate the perspective of climate change and enable the increase in the adaptive capacities of family farmers so that they can anticipate events (adaptation ex-ante) and not just respond to its impacts (ex-post adaptation).