Other Coping and Adaptation Strategies Apart from migration
, what are some of the other coping and adaptation strategies used by households to deal with difficulties to sustain their livelihood an shocks, including those brought about by climate? Table 1.7 from Ad oho bondwoman (2014b) provides information from the surveys on how households have dealt, or might deal, with shocks. Specifically, households who were affected by climate and environmental patterns and who lost income, crops, or livestock and cattle, or who caught less fish, were asked whether they used one of several coping mechanism, and if not, whether they would be likely to use such a coping mechanism if they were affected by climate patterns in the future. If the households answered yes to the question on whether they did use the coping mechanism,or if they agreed strongly or somewhat with the fact that they might use this coping mechanism in the future, they are considered as using the mechanism in table 1.6. In the table, the share of those using the various mechanisms as a proportion of the total population is provided (this factors in those not affectedby shocks that are considered as not using the mechanism).Some 60.6 percent of households declare that they have used or would use their savings in case of a climate shock. This is followed by 46.8 percent of respondents (household heads) who have sold or would sell their assets, 46.2percent who have asked for a loan or would do so, 40.6 percent who have sold or would sell their livestock, and finally 36.4 percent who have withdrawn or would withdraw their children from school. The proportions of households resorting to these various strategies tend to be higher among lower quintiles (which have fewer other ways to cope), and they are also higher among households declaring that they lost income, crops, or livestock/cattle, or caught less fish, as expected.There are differences between countries, especially regarding the possibility of withdrawing children from school—in Egypt this is not considered by most households. Also, households receiving international remittances, who tend to begetter off, are less likely to resort to coping strategies, except using their savings.The qualitative focus groups also reveal many different types of coping and adaptation strategies used by households, including selling assets, shifting food consumption habits (such as eating less chicken or beef or eating one less meal),and even removing children from school in order for them to work and support the household (Grant et al. 2014). Borrowing food or money from the community's also common in times of economic stress. Women, in particular, are mindful of loss of income on the ability to help their children get married. “It affects everything. My husband passed away and my monthly income is 60 or 90 EGO. nothing. Sometimes I refuse a suitor of my daughter because I cannot afford getting her married” (Female, 36–45 years old, Dakhalia, Egypt). Another key coping strategy is to diversify income sources. One Egyptian woman explained that poor prices turn farmers away from agriculture altogether: “[Farmers] used to exert earnest effort in the past because the gains were equally profitable, but now it is of no use. Land [requires] a lot of money and the earnings then have to be distributed among many in the family” (Female, 25–35 years old, Cairo,Egypt). Or as a Syrian man explained it: “When the al-Labour river was flowing,there was a labor force here and people were able to cultivate their lands, but now…” (Male, 25–45 years old, al-Hasaka, Syria). Yet traveling long distances between homes and jobs is cumbersome—and expensive, with a number of respondents in all five countries expressing frustration about the expense of
transportation and lack of good roads.Households were also asked about actions that they took or might take to cope with the loss of crops, income, or livestock due to weather or environmental changes. The possibilities included changing production technologies such island preparation, sowing or weeding; changing crop choices, increasing crop variety,or adopting drought or flood-resistant crops; changing the percentage composition of crops versus livestock; increasing the use of fertilizer or pesticides;seeking or increasing off-farm employment; and receiving occupational training for nonfarm employment. Households were also asked whether compared to five years ago they used more stored water or consumed more stored grains and stored animal products. They were asked whether they were aware of people moving out of their community as a result of weather or environmental changes,and whether in the last five years people moved into their community. Finally,they were asked if in the past five years they experienced conflict over agriculturally land or livestock, or water for household use or cultivation due to weather or environmental changes.
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