Search Climate Insights Directory

The Adapta Sertão programme employs a community-based adaptation (CBA) approach to help small farmers in Brazil's semi-arid region increase yields and resilience through a combination of low-cost technology, micro-credit, and market access. The programme argues that a systemic approach, which uses partnerships to link fragmented public policies regarding finance, technology, and technical assistance, is more effective than relying solely on slow government interventions.

The document analyzes climate vulnerability in the Bacia do Jacuípe, a poor region in the Brazilian Sertão, where temperatures have risen by approximately 2 °C and rainfall has decreased by about 350 mm since 1962. This environmental shift has led to a decline in average milk productivity, contrasting with overall increases in Bahía and Brazil. To address this, the Adapta Sertão coalition tested various farm-level interventions, finding that efficient irrigation systems and balanced animal diets can reduce production's dependence on climate, suggesting these are viable adaptation strategies for larger-scale implementation in semi-arid regions.