Evaluación de la adaptación de los productores a la variabilidad climática, principalmente a la sequía en cuencas hidrográficas en América Central : Parte 2. Estudio de caso en la subcuenca del rio Aguas Calientes, Nicaragua

Abstract

A methodology was applied to evaluate farmers' adaptation to climate variability, and mainly to drought, in the sub-watershed of Aguas Calientes, Nicaragua. The results showed a low level of adaptation (2 in a 1-to-5 scale). Strategies and technologies used by farmers to adapt to climate variability and drought were identified and characterized. In general, strategies and technologies used for climate variability adaptation are not related to watershed strata; however, some of them are strata-dependent, like irrigation systems, water harvesting and storage, use of living and non-living barriers, green manures and fruit plantations. Financial feasibility of two crops adapted to drought and produced in this watershed -henequen and pitahaya- was determined, as a diversification alter-native. Traditional systems of henequen production in the sub-watershed are unsustainable. On the contrary, all the scenarios evaluated for pitahaya showed positive financial indicators that would make attractive the inversion in this crop. (Résumé d'auteur