Agricultural Decision-making and Adaptation to Precipitation Trends in Sri Lanka (ADAPT-SL)
Project Overview
Water scarcity is a growing concern throughout the world, affecting nearly one third of the population on every continent. The problem is particularly urgent in developing countries heavily reliant on agriculture, which can account for as much as 85-90% of fresh water usage. Population growth, dramatic shifts in land use, competing demands for water and energy, and changing climatic conditions further exacerbate water scarcity. Against this backdrop, effective water management has significant implications for food security, economic growth, health, and political stability.
Historically, the world’s farmers have relied on traditional practices to manage water, but now find themselves challenged by new conditions that require adaptation. The ADAPT-SL project seeks to understand the factors that facilitate or constrain adaptive responses among farmers within the dry zone of Sri Lanka. We draw upon the core disciplines of psychology, sociology, hydrology, and engineering to investigate farmers’ adaptive actions and how these decisions are affected by psychological, social, institutional, and environmental factors.
Click here to see photographs from our work in Sri Lanka
More information about the ADAPT-SL project, its components, and project developments can be found here.
Water scarcity is a growing concern throughout the world, affecting nearly one third of the population on every continent. The problem is particularly urgent in developing countries heavily reliant on agriculture, which can account for as much as 85-90% of fresh water usage. Population growth, dramatic shifts in land use, competing demands for water and energy, and changing climatic conditions further exacerbate water scarcity. Against this backdrop, effective water management has significant implications for food security, economic growth, health, and political stability.
Historically, the world’s farmers have relied on traditional practices to manage water, but now find themselves challenged by new conditions that require adaptation. The ADAPT-SL project seeks to understand the factors that facilitate or constrain adaptive responses among farmers within the dry zone of Sri Lanka. We draw upon the core disciplines of psychology, sociology, hydrology, and engineering to investigate farmers’ adaptive actions and how these decisions are affected by psychological, social, institutional, and environmental factors.
Click here to see photographs from our work in Sri Lanka
More information about the ADAPT-SL project, its components, and project developments can be found here.
Sri Lanka Environmental and Agricultural and Decision Making Survey (SEADS)
My principal role on this project is in the development and implementation of a longitudinal survey of small scale farmers in Sri Lanka. The SEADS will be implemented in approximately 30 communities throughout the dry zone of Sri Lanka that vary in access to irrigation infrastructure. Households and communities will be visited multiple times throughout this five-year project to examine changes in these variables over time.
The SEADS involves two survey instruments: a household survey (SEADS-HH) and community survey (SEADS-C). The SEADS-HH collects information about household demographics, economic activity, land holdings, agricultural production, farming practices, risk perceptions, perceptions of environmental change, and agricultural innovation. The SEADS-C is administered to a set of leaders in the community including the village officer, farmer organization headman, and agricultural extension officers. This survey asses access to irrigation infrastructure, the presence farmer training programs and other agricultural support, economic activity, and other services (e.g., health care, education, etc.) available within the community.
My principal role on this project is in the development and implementation of a longitudinal survey of small scale farmers in Sri Lanka. The SEADS will be implemented in approximately 30 communities throughout the dry zone of Sri Lanka that vary in access to irrigation infrastructure. Households and communities will be visited multiple times throughout this five-year project to examine changes in these variables over time.
The SEADS involves two survey instruments: a household survey (SEADS-HH) and community survey (SEADS-C). The SEADS-HH collects information about household demographics, economic activity, land holdings, agricultural production, farming practices, risk perceptions, perceptions of environmental change, and agricultural innovation. The SEADS-C is administered to a set of leaders in the community including the village officer, farmer organization headman, and agricultural extension officers. This survey asses access to irrigation infrastructure, the presence farmer training programs and other agricultural support, economic activity, and other services (e.g., health care, education, etc.) available within the community.
Collaborators
This project involves a multi-disciplinary collaboration with researchers from Vanderbilt University, the University of North Florida and the University of Colorado. We have partnered with the National Building Research Organization as our key collaborator in Sri Lanka. A full list of the collaborators can be found here.
This project involves a multi-disciplinary collaboration with researchers from Vanderbilt University, the University of North Florida and the University of Colorado. We have partnered with the National Building Research Organization as our key collaborator in Sri Lanka. A full list of the collaborators can be found here.
Publications & Presentations
Truelove, H.B., Carrico, A.R., Thabrew, L. (2014). Agricultural adaptation to climate change: A case study of Sri Lankan farmers. Global Environmental Change, , 31, 85-97.
Burchfield, E.K. “Resettlement and coloniality in the Mahaweli Ganga Watershed,” presented at the Annual Dimensions of Political Ecology Conference on Nature/Society in Lexington, KY, February 2013.
Carrico, A.R. Climate, Drought & Agricultural Adaptations: Vulnerabilities and Responses to Water Stress Among Paddy Farmers in Sri Lanka. 2013. NSF Water Sustainability and Climate Annual Meeting, Washington DC.
Hornberger, G.M. & Carrico, A.R. (2012). Determining paths by which farmers can adapt effectively to scarce freshwater resources. Talk to be given at the American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Jacobi, J., Carrico, A.R., Gilligan, J., Hornberger, G. (2012). Diffusion of a sustainable farming technique in Sri Lanka: An agent-based modeling approach. Talk to be given at the American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Truelove, H.B., Carrico, A., Thabrew, L., Jacobi, J. & Hornberger, G. (2012). Agricultural adaptation in Sri Lanka: Psychological and Environmental Influences. American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FA.
Truelove, H.B., Carrico, A.R., Thabrew, L. (2014). Agricultural adaptation to climate change: A case study of Sri Lankan farmers. Global Environmental Change, , 31, 85-97.
Burchfield, E.K. “Resettlement and coloniality in the Mahaweli Ganga Watershed,” presented at the Annual Dimensions of Political Ecology Conference on Nature/Society in Lexington, KY, February 2013.
Carrico, A.R. Climate, Drought & Agricultural Adaptations: Vulnerabilities and Responses to Water Stress Among Paddy Farmers in Sri Lanka. 2013. NSF Water Sustainability and Climate Annual Meeting, Washington DC.
Hornberger, G.M. & Carrico, A.R. (2012). Determining paths by which farmers can adapt effectively to scarce freshwater resources. Talk to be given at the American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Jacobi, J., Carrico, A.R., Gilligan, J., Hornberger, G. (2012). Diffusion of a sustainable farming technique in Sri Lanka: An agent-based modeling approach. Talk to be given at the American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Truelove, H.B., Carrico, A., Thabrew, L., Jacobi, J. & Hornberger, G. (2012). Agricultural adaptation in Sri Lanka: Psychological and Environmental Influences. American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FA.
Funding
- National Science Foundation: Water Sustainability and Climate (WSC) Program. Climate, Drought and Agricultural Adaptations: An Investigation of Vulnerabilities and Responses to Water Stress Among Paddy Farmers in Sri Lanka (NSF-EAR 1204685). PI G.M. Hornberger. 9/1/2012 – 8/31/2017.
- Vanderbilt University Discovery Grant Program. Climate Adaptation, Water-Energy Impacts, Perceptions and Behavior. 2011 – 2013.
- Vanderbilt International Office. Category B: Project Development Grant. Climate Change Adaptation: A Pilot Study on Drought Impacts, Perceptions and Behavior (Abstract). 2010-2011.
- Vanderbilt International Office. Category A: Collaborative Exploratory Grant. Climate Change Adaptation: Climate Change Adaptation: Flood Impacts and Perceptions (Abstract). 2009-2010.
