Changes in the Adaptive Capacity of Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Change in Ecuador’s Tropical Commodity Crops: Banana and Cocoa

Climate change can cause negative impacts on agriculture. This paper aims to analyze the changes in the adaptive capacity of livelihood vulnerability to climate change in Ecuador’s Tropical Commodity Crops: Banana and Cocoa. We used the adaptive capacity factor from the livelihood vulnerability index approach, using secondary data from the Survey of Agricultural and Livestock Surface and Production of Ecuador from 2020 to 2022. The results showed that for the banana crops, the livelihood strategy has remained stable, the sociodemographic profile was improving, and the social network got worse in 2021 during the pandemic. Regarding cocoa, the sociodemographic profile has the lowest values of the major components. Lastly, the adaptive capacity was much better in 2022 for both crops, so farmers were becoming more prepared for climate hazards, but they could have better improvement. The policy implications are that agricultural assistance and insurance access should be improved to reduce climate vulnerability.