Agricultural diversification occurs when more species, plant varieties or animal breeds are added to
a given farm, or farming community. It includes landscape diversification
–
different crops and
cropping systems interspersed i
n space and time. Livelihood diversification implies that farming
households are involved in more and different (non
-
agricultural) activities, for instance by taking up
a job in the city, setting up a shop, or by sta
rting to process farm products.
Both agricultural and
non
-
agricultural forms of diversification
may be
relevant for climate risk management
,
although the
emphasis
here is
on agricultural diversification. Climate
-
related shocks, such as heat waves, frost,
excessive rain or floods, or drou
ght spells, have different and sometimes even opposite effects on
different farming system com
ponents or economic activities