Crop Substitution

Needs Address

• Risk reduction
• Increased agricultural productivity

Adaptation effects

• Reduces the risk of complete crop failure due to drought or untimely heavy rainfall
• Avoids loss of crops due to variations in climate
• Can take advantage of the early production of crops by growing further additional crops once original crop has been harvested

Overview and Features

Substituting crop varieties to those more suitable for altered climatic conditions

Cost

Cost of different seeds and cropping methods, if applicable

Energy source

Human labour

Ease of maintenance

Dependent on chosen crop

Technology performance

Has been shown to be effective when appropriate crops are selected 

Considerations

Requires knowhow and a detailed understanding of soil interactions

Co-benefit, suitability for developing countries

• Higher crop yields
• Low costs mean this option is very suitable
• Must be supported by knowledge provision and capacity to experiment (demonstration, piloting)

Information Resources

Hageback, J., Sundberg, J., Ostwald, M., Chen, D., Yun, X. and Knutsson, P. 2005. Climate Variability and Land-Use Change in Danangou Watershed, China—Examples of Small-Scale Farmers’ Adaptation. Climatic Change 72: 189–212