Abstract
A series of factors affect the social perception of hazards in a rural context. This article analyzes how weather conditions influence farmers’ perceptions of natural hazards. In order to understand the relationship between time of year/season and farmers’ concerns about hazards, this study was undertaken. The methodology was based on surveys done to obtain a base-collection of primary data, as well as a meteorological and production analysis using secondary data. A case study of small coffee farms was carried out in a Brazilian municipality with questionnaires applied during the dry season in 2016 and the rainy season in 2017. The results indicate that drought is the main hazard identified by farmers in both weather seasons. Although there were some changes in perceptions observed, the ranking order of the main hazards did not change over the dry and rainy weather seasons.
Highlights
Contemporary climate change is increasing the risk of extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures, which pose a bigger threat to those in rural areas
The intent of this study is to examine the weather’s influence on the social perception of natural hazard risks in rural areas
The results indicate that the rank order of the main hazards did not change when comparing the dry aRndespraoinnsyessefarosomn.thTehderryesseualtssonobatnadinreadiniyndseicaastoenthinadtitchaeteptehractefprotimonaolfisetxotfrenmateureavlepnhtsenhoamd eanna atvheartacgaeusdeifcfoenrecenrcnefoofr 7a%gribcuetlwtuereanl ptrhoedtuwctoiosne,adsroonusg. hDtuwrainsgthienmthoestrfarienqyuseenatlsyonch6o4s%enoefvfeanrtm(Feirgsusraei8d). tThhate tdhieffyerwinogrrvyalaubeosuattttrhieburitsekd oinf dseraosuognhst,diind tnhoet dchryansgeeastohne, t9h6r%ee wmeorset wproervraielednatbnoautut rtahlehraizskarodfs dlirsoteudghbty. respondents, nor did the percentage changes of each chosen hazard vary in a predictable way
Summary
Contemporary climate change is increasing the risk of extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and extreme temperatures, which pose a bigger threat to those in rural areas. Most of the recent research on vulnerability has been focused on urban areas and less on the rural context, especially in developing countries [1]. Given the increased occurrence of extreme events, it is important for farmers to recognize the risks of climate change in order for them to adopt appropriate planning and innovative techniques that can be used to reduce vulnerabilities and build resilience [4]. The agricultural sector is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions These emissions further drive climate change, resulting in an increased occurrence of extreme weather events [5]. Out of the total amount of emissions (CO2e) from Brazil during 2016–2017, 25% comes from the agriculture sector (including emissions from crops, livestock, and soil management) [6]
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