CLIMATIC RISKS AND THE LIVELIHOODS OF CATTLE PRODUCTION FAMILIES IN THE COSTA CHICA, MEXICO

Abstract

Extreme weather events in animal production are common in tropical coastal areas and have a high impact on the livelihoods of livestock keepers. The objective of the study was to analyze the threats and risks that extreme climatic events represent in the livelihood of the dual-purpose cattle raising families of the Costa Chica in the state of Guerrero. Information was recorded on the livelihood assets, farmer´s risk perception and impacts of climatic threats on 189 production units of cattle. The information was analyzed with descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, cluster and simple correspondence with the SAS® statistical package. Six types of livelihood were identified, with predominance of cattle-crops (48.7%), only cattle (15.3%) and cattle-crops-services (12.7%). For the level of assets and income, the livestock-crops-commerce livelihood had the highest average values, followed by cattle-farming and only cattle. The perception of farmer´s climatic and flood risk was high, and drought was the risk most important. The livelihoods with income from services and commerce were the least vulnerable to climate threats, since they do not depend entirely on agricultural activities; while the only cattle livelihood was the most vulnerable, due to depends on natural resources and was affected by hurricanes, floods, droughts and high temperatures.