Co-design of climate change adaptation strategies with farmers: the case of farming systems in Haïti

In Haiti, agricultural systems are highly vulnerable to climate change. This study aims to assess the relevance of a process of co-design of climate change adaptation strategies with producers in a highly vulnerable zone such as Haiti. Conducted in Saint Michel de l'Attalaye, the study was based on: (i) a diagnosis of the technical and economic performance of 24 farms representative of the three main types of adaptation strategies observed, and (ii) the co-design of innovative strategies with a smaller sample of 9 farmers. The results of the study show that the initial performances of the 24 farms in terms of covering family caloric needs, income, and greenhouse gas emissions are different for the three types of strategies. The diversification of agricultural production systems plays a crucial role in the performance measured. The strategies proposed by the 9 producers aim to increase this diversification while increasing sugar cane area in their production systems; however the changes thought out are incremental. More co-design loops could be considered to explore with farmers disruptive changes that would both favor an increase in production capacities of farms and climate change adaptation. This pilot study in Haiti could be replicated in other highly vulnerable areas to co-design innovative systems taking into account the specific constraints to which farmers are exposed.