Adaptation Options for Cassava Production under Different Climate Futures for Fiji

Abstract

Cassava is a versatile tropical food crop that can be grown under conditions of low fertility and low rainfall, harvested according to a flexible schedule, and which yields moderate amounts of carbohydrate relative to other more-drought-sensitive crops. For these reasons, it is an important staple food for tropical regions and plays a substantial role in food security in these areas. Tropical regions are likely to be affected by climate change through increases in temperature and changes in rainfall and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). The changes will affect crop production and place greater demand on agricultural communities to maintain productivity/profitability. Fiji is an example of one such location, which is predicted to be impacted by increasing temperatures, increasing variability and intensity of rainfall, and changes in rainfall seasonality. However, while climate changes will occur, there is continuing uncertainty about the timing and severity of such impacts. Thus, in order for cassava to continue to contribute to food security, adaptation options must be identified within a range of projected climate variations. The Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) has recently been developed to include a prototype module for cassava that is responsive to changes in water, temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations. In this work we use the cassava prototype to investigate adaptation strategies that maintain and/or intensify cassava production under three different climate-change scenarios for Fiji.