In the northern and central regions of the Philippines, climate change risks are seriously threatening rice farming and the sustainability of farmer’s livelihoods. Farmers in Pangasinan and Tarlac provinces reported that typhoon and continuous intense rain are the most frequent climate-related hazards that they have encountered. These brought farm income losses of 70-90 percent of total value of losses in lowland and upland rice farms in the two provinces. A study on downscaled climate scenarios for the period centered on 2020, 2050 and 2080 show that in Tarlac province there will be more pronounced rainfall during wet season and a drier dry season while in Pangasinan, more rainfall is likely to occur throughout the year. These projected changes could pose further risks to farmers and therefore require concrete adaptation action with the assistance of local government units.

This short policy brief, Local Power to Act: Reducing Climate Risks for Rice Farmers (Philippines), looks at what climate change means for Pangasinan and Tarlac, current farming practices, current response strategies and constraints and makes policy recommendations.

Further reading:

This project and publication has been produced as part of the SUMERNET research call for research on climate change implications to food security and livelihoods of small scale farmers.

SUMERNET Homepage: SUMERNET

Compelling reason for local action: climate risk reduction and adaptation (Lao PDR)
Improving adaptive capacity of small-scale rice farmers: comparative analysis of Lao PDR and the Philippines

To see all SUMERNET projects since 2010, please see here.