4 Integration into Development: Translating International …
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the programme for the Gunung Kidul area is under the Ministry of Agriculture,
the focus is on limiting the impact of climate change on agricultural practices and
livelihoods. However, as the programme for Kulon Progo is allocated under the
Ministry for Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the programmatic emphasis is on limiting
the impacts of coastal storms, tsunami preparation, coastal environmental protection/coastal buffering and marine and coastal-based livelihoods (primarily disaster
risk reduction focused), rather than emphasising the inclusion of climate change
adaptation in agricultural livelihoods such as slow-onset impacts of drought, water
scarcity, increased heat or flood, or climate variability such as changes in seasonal
patterns affecting agricultural productivity.
According to the findings in the two case studies discussed, adaptation to climate
change has been approached in terms of reduction to risk and vulnerability but with
little regard and incorporation of farmers’ social processes, the agency in innovation
and local knowledge within the engagement approach and design of the adaptation
programmes for village implementation. Findings from the case studies found that
programme activities were largely pre-determined rather than responsive to local
farmers’ processes, needs. As well as neglecting to position early engagement as
a starting point for designing the programmatic approach. In PDPT, for example,
programme objectives were focused on physical conditions and technically based
(Suarma et al. 2018:128).
The Experiences of Local Villages in Adaptive Capacity
and Resilience Enhancing Activities
The first case study in which findings are presented in this section describe the experiences of community-level farmers targeted for the Kulon Progo implementation
of the PDPT producing vegetable and fruit crops in the coastal area. Targeted in
the programme to become a “resilient coastal village” following a series of climate
vulnerability assessments undertaken throughout the country used to identify project
target areas, the village communities according to the interviews undertaken are
primarily engaged and dependent on farming livelihoods. Prior to the implementation of the PDPT programme, farmers in the area actively engaged in determining
strategies for retaining land access and strengthening farming livelihood options in
a harsh coastal environment. These villages are more widely known for the strategies employed in farming unfavourable agricultural land due to coastal conditions,
and engaging active strategies in the face of land conflict pressures to retain the
area for sustaining farming livelihoods. Previous agricultural studies undertaken in
the case study area in Kulon Progo found highly innovative adaptive farming techniques employed (Dinarti et al. 2013; Supriyanto et al. 2012). In particular, innovative agricultural livelihood diversification based around collective management
systems (Raya 2014). These systems emphasise social capital and social relations
as being conducive to ongoing adaptation process in land management, that are also
67
the programme for the Gunung Kidul area is under the Ministry of Agriculture,
the focus is on limiting the impact of climate change on agricultural practices and
livelihoods. However, as the programme for Kulon Progo is allocated under the
Ministry for Marine Affairs and Fisheries, the programmatic emphasis is on limiting
the impacts of coastal storms, tsunami preparation, coastal environmental protection/coastal buffering and marine and coastal-based livelihoods (primarily disaster
risk reduction focused), rather than emphasising the inclusion of climate change
adaptation in agricultural livelihoods such as slow-onset impacts of drought, water
scarcity, increased heat or flood, or climate variability such as changes in seasonal
patterns affecting agricultural productivity.
According to the findings in the two case studies discussed, adaptation to climate
change has been approached in terms of reduction to risk and vulnerability but with
little regard and incorporation of farmers’ social processes, the agency in innovation
and local knowledge within the engagement approach and design of the adaptation
programmes for village implementation. Findings from the case studies found that
programme activities were largely pre-determined rather than responsive to local
farmers’ processes, needs. As well as neglecting to position early engagement as
a starting point for designing the programmatic approach. In PDPT, for example,
programme objectives were focused on physical conditions and technically based
(Suarma et al. 2018:128).
The Experiences of Local Villages in Adaptive Capacity
and Resilience Enhancing Activities
The first case study in which findings are presented in this section describe the experiences of community-level farmers targeted for the Kulon Progo implementation
of the PDPT producing vegetable and fruit crops in the coastal area. Targeted in
the programme to become a “resilient coastal village” following a series of climate
vulnerability assessments undertaken throughout the country used to identify project
target areas, the village communities according to the interviews undertaken are
primarily engaged and dependent on farming livelihoods. Prior to the implementation of the PDPT programme, farmers in the area actively engaged in determining
strategies for retaining land access and strengthening farming livelihood options in
a harsh coastal environment. These villages are more widely known for the strategies employed in farming unfavourable agricultural land due to coastal conditions,
and engaging active strategies in the face of land conflict pressures to retain the
area for sustaining farming livelihoods. Previous agricultural studies undertaken in
the case study area in Kulon Progo found highly innovative adaptive farming techniques employed (Dinarti et al. 2013; Supriyanto et al. 2012). In particular, innovative agricultural livelihood diversification based around collective management
systems (Raya 2014). These systems emphasise social capital and social relations
as being conducive to ongoing adaptation process in land management, that are also