Climate Smart Agriculture in Caroni · Trinidad & Tobago

Caroni households in coastal wetland communities in Trinidad and Tobago experience increasing challenges in the face of climatic change.

These communities, historically dependent on sugar farming, are now transitioning to climate smart agriculture for their livelihoods.

Upon request of the Ministry of Planning, OIKO prepared a baseline of the socio-economic situation of small agricultural holders of the National Sugar Adaptation Strategy in Trinidad and Tobago to ensure improvement of the living conditions of those groups most affected by the sugar sector reform process in SRAs.

Household data were collected from 138 households in the Nariva and Caroni communities focusing on gender and socio-demographic structure, livelihood strategies and social networks; exposure to climate change and climate-induced extreme weather events, such as floods and droughts; and access to services and infrastructure. Using regression analyses, the influences of adaptive capacity to climate change on food security were analysed by gender, household and communities.

Household socio-demographic structure and livelihood strategies were strongly related to food security and food security was reduced in the face of climate variability and disaster.

These conclusions were followed by a set of recommendations for Climate Smart Agriculture.