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Typical patterns of smallholder vulnerability to weather extremes with regard to food security in the Peruvian Altiplano

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Abstract

Smallholder livelihoods in the Peruvian Altiplano are frequently threatened by weather extremes, including droughts, frosts and heavy rainfall. Given the persistence of significant undernourishment despite regional development efforts, we propose a cluster approach to evaluate smallholders’ vulnerability to weather extremes with regard to food security. We applied this approach to 268 smallholder households using information from two existing regional assessments and from our own household survey. The cluster analysis revealed four vulnerability patterns that depict typical combinations of household attributes, including their harvest failure risk, agricultural resources, education level and non-agricultural income. We validated the identified vulnerability patterns by demonstrating the correlation between them and an independently reported damage: the purchase of food and fodder resulting from exposure to weather extremes. The vulnerability patterns were then ranked according to the different amounts of purchase. A second validation aspect accounted for independently reported mechanisms explaining smallholders’ sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Based on the similarities among the households, our study contributes to the understanding of vulnerability beyond individual cases. In particular, the validation strengthens the credibility and suitability of our findings for decision-making pertaining to the reduction of vulnerability.

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Acknowledgments

The research for this study was supported by the ALTAGRO project. We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation for the contribution of the smallholders in the investigated households who participated in the interviews and provided rich background information. Special thanks go to the staff members of CIRNMA for sharing documentation and offering logistical support for the data collection and field work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Potato Center, Lima, Peru

    Diana Sietz

  2. Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam, Germany

    Diana Sietz & Matthias K. B. Lüdeke

  3. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales y Medio Ambiente, Puno, Peru

    Sabino Edgar Mamani Choque

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  1. Diana Sietz
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  2. Sabino Edgar Mamani Choque
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  3. Matthias K. B. Lüdeke
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Correspondence to Diana Sietz.

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Sietz, D., Mamani Choque, S.E. & Lüdeke, M.K.B. Typical patterns of smallholder vulnerability to weather extremes with regard to food security in the Peruvian Altiplano. Reg Environ Change 12, 489–505 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-011-0246-5

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