What Affects Farmers in Choosing Better Agroforestry Practice as a Strategy of Climate Change Adaptation? An Experience from the Mid-Hills of Nepal

Abstract

Determinants for choosing climate change adaptation strategies and selecting better agroforestry practices have been scantly explored in the case of developing countries. This paper discusses; local understanding about climate change, climatic effects, and factors that affecting farmers in choosing adaptation strategies, and selecting better agroforestry practices. We conducted a study in three districts located in the mid-hills of Nepal, where farmers were adopting agroforestry practices in two forms; traditional and improved practices. This study followed three techniques of social survey; household survey, focus group discussion, and key informant interviews. Almost all farmers of the study areas were experiencing climatic changes, but only a few of them accepted the changes induced by climate change, and have adopted adaptation measures. Diversifying crop production, shifting farming practices, changing occupation, and emigrating were locally adopted adaptation strategies. Livelihood improvement, income generation, and food production were the prime motives of adopting agroforestry practice in the study area, then only, farmers perceived agroforestry practice as an adaptation measure of climate change. Age, education, and habit of growing commercial species significantly affected farmers to adopt climate change adaptation strategies. Likewise, age, education, sex, and nature of growing commercial species, and income from tree products significantly influenced farmers to choose the improved agroforestry practice as a better practice. Though agroforestry was widely considered as a strategy to combat climate change, only some farmers accepted it due to their awareness level. So, education programs should be intensified to sensitize farmers about climate change and encourage them for adopting the improved agroforestry practice.