Farm level adaptation decisions to face climatic change and variability: Evidence from Central Chile

Abstract

• Factors influencing adaptation to climatic change in Central Chile were identified. • A two-part hurdle model explains the decision and intensity of adaptation. • Access to weather information has a strong positive influence on the adaptation decision. • Membership in organizations and land tenure increase the intensity of adaptation. • Access to meteorological information and social capital are key variables to promote adaptation. Climate change represents one of the biggest threats to agriculture today. The aim of this paper is to analyze the decision and intensity of adaptation to this phenomenon among farmers in Central Chile and to identify the factors that influence the adoption of adaptation measures. The list of adaptation practices was created with the assistance of a panel of experts. A two-part hurdle model was used to identify the adoption and intensity of adoption. The decision to adapt is strongly influenced by land tenure security and access to weather information, which increase the probability of adaptation by 13% and 30%, respectively. The intensity of adaptation is highly influenced by affiliation to a farm organization or association, which tends to boost intensity by 72.2%. Land tenure also increases intensity by 44.5%. Years of experience in agriculture and the income obtained from crops in the previous season also have a positive impact. Empirical results reveal that the most effective way to reduce barriers to adaptation is to improve access to information, while a highly relevant mode to increase the intensity of adaptation is to encourage social networking.