Microclimate Characterization and Climate Risk Assessment of Agroforestry-Based Arabica Coffee Production

The shade plants regulate the microclimate of the coffee plants when integrated with or under pine, alnus, mango, and chayote. Significant reduction was noted on the minimum and maximum air temperature, soil temperature, wind velocity, and light intensity, while no differences found in the relative humidity. The microclimate changes are favorable for the growth and development of the coffee trees. Likewise, the socioeconomic capacity and the agroforestry-based coffee growing practiced by farmers in Atok, Benguet, Philippines to adapt to the effect of the climatic hazards make them moderately adaptive to climate change. The coffee growers in the municipality of Tublay, Benguet, Philippines, are moderately vulnerable due to higher exposures to the climate hazards and few adaptation technologies practiced. Despite low wealth level that constrain them to readily spend for cost of technological adaptations, the coffee growers are planting cash crops to augment their income and increase their resilience. Further, agroforestry-based coffee planting also promotes favorable microclimate condition, biodiversity conservation, and soil protection.