Extreme weather events associated with climate variability and climate change are affecting rural production systems with increasing frequency. In this context, the evolution of “El Niño” into a more intense event during 2026–2027 could exacerbate conditions such as prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and extreme temperatures, creating additional challenges for communities that depend on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods.

Among the most vulnerable sectors are small-scale rural farmers. Their dependence on weather conditions—particularly the rainy season for food production and income generation—means that the impacts of climate change pose significant risks to their livelihoods, food security, and the well-being of their families.

Given this scenario, strengthening the adaptive capacity of rural communities has become a priority. Climate change adaptation seeks to reduce the vulnerability of people, ecosystems, and production systems through actions that enable them to anticipate, cope with, and recover from the effects of an increasingly variable and uncertain climate.

With this goal in mind, the SAbERES Project works with small-scale producers, organizations, and local institutions in different regions of Mexico to promote evidence-based adaptation processes developed through participatory approaches. Through tools such as Climate Change Adaptation Plans (PACC), the project supports the identification of climate risks and the implementation of measures aimed at strengthening the resilience of production systems and the ecosystems on which they depend.

The experience gained through SAbERES shows that actions such as soil conservation, sustainable water management, production diversification, and the restoration of ecosystem functions can significantly contribute to reducing the vulnerability of rural families. Similarly, strengthening technical and organizational capacities improves decision-making in the face of climate risk scenarios.

As part of this effort, the project has developed an Adaptive Capacity Index that identifies strengths and areas for improvement to increase the resilience of rural communities. The information generated by this tool helps to better understand the factors that facilitate or limit adaptation and provides useful evidence to guide more effective interventions and investments.

The lessons learned from these processes also offer valuable insights for the design and implementation of public policies. Strengthening adaptation requires not only actions at the farm or community level but also institutions capable of incorporating climate risk into development planning, promoting coordination across sectors, and directing resources toward the most vulnerable populations.

In this context, progress toward a National Climate Change Adaptation Policy led by the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change represents an opportunity to strengthen the resilience of rural areas and recognize the strategic role that small-scale farmers play in food security and the conservation of natural resources. In the face of an increasingly variable and uncertain climate, adaptation should not be viewed as a supplementary measure, but rather as a strategic investment. Strengthening the resilience of rural communities in the face of the effects of climate change helps protect food production, the livelihoods of millions of people, and the sustainable development of these regions.

Demonstration plot for soil restoration with nopal and maguey cultivation. Credit: SABERES.

Agroforestry plot in Oaxaca. Credit: SABERES.