Choice Of Adaptation Strategies Research Articles

Do risk perceptions and constraints influence the adoption of climate change practices among small livestock herders in Punjab, Pakistan?

Climate change is severely damaging the agricultural system of many food producing regions worldwide. Small/subsistent livestock herders are the most vulnerable and less resilient group towards climatic disasters within South Asian region including Pakistan. The adoption of climate-smart practices would be beneficial for small livestock herders because of its potential to ensure food security, improve income, and sustain development simultaneously. The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors influencing small livestock herders' adaptation decisions towards changing climate by conducting field-based research. We intend to understand how institutional factors, risk perceptions, adaptations, and personal constraints affect the adaptation decisions related to climate change mitigation and choice of adaptation strategies. For this purpose, a primary data set of 405 small livestock herders from Punjab, Pakistan was used. The regression results of empirical models reveal the probability of adopting specific climate change strategies. The study results showed that zero adaptation (non-adoption) to climate change is higher when there is low literacy rate, less experience, nuclear family system, lack of institutional services, and low level of risk perception about climate change. The marginal outcome showed that the livestock herders with positive risk perception and access to the institutional services do participate more frequently in a higher number of adaptations options for economic and ecological benefits. Therefore, it is suggested that government and other development actors should strengthen institutions for trust building among local community groups and to reduce individuals' risks. Moreover, effective insurance schemes could facilitate small livestock herders to keep less but more productive livestock. The study recommends building viable and potential weather index insurance schemes which will result meaningful marginal scale benefits for smallholders. Finally, the results of major constraints suggest that it is necessary to provide awareness of climatic vulnerabilities, timely information delivery, and adequate financial facilities to offset resource constraints of livestock herders in order to adopt sustainable strategies at their farms.

Climate change adaptation strategies and their predictors amongst rural farmers in Ambassel district, Northern Ethiopia.

The present study was conducted in Ambassel district of Northern Ethiopia to understand adaptation strategies employed by rural farmers to the adverse effects of climate change and variability and factors that determine their adaptation decisions. The study was based on multistage sampling techniques to select the study villages and sampled households (HHs). Data were collected through HH survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The collected data were analysed by using descriptive statistics and multinomial logit (MNL) model. The results revealed that in response to the effects of climate variability and change, the adaptation strategies deployed by farmers included terracing as soil and water conservation strategy, changing planting date, fertiliser application, crop diversification with improved variety, income diversification and livestock diversification. The result from MNL analysis showed that age, family size, educational level, farm size, income, livestock holding, access to extension, distance to market, access to climate information and agroecological zones were amongst the factors that had a significant influence on farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies. The basic barriers to climate change adaptation were lack of finance, shortage of land, inadequate climate information, lack of skill and shortage of labour. Therefore, strengthening interventions that enhance income generating activities and access to climate information should be an integral part of climate change adaptation strategies. Moreover, providing early maturing and high-value crop varieties that are more suited to the local environment is also crucial.

Farm Households’ Adoption of Climate-smart Practices in Subsistence Agriculture: Evidence from Northern Togo

Climate change (CC) effects on agriculture development and households' vulnerability are widely recognized. Being aware of the induced effects of climatic risks, farmers have adopted adaptation strategies to build resilience. Analyzes the determinants of choice of adaptation strategies using binary models can lead to an estimation bias, since the number of adopted strategies may be correlated. This paper analyzes farm households' perception of CC, the determinants of choice of the number of adopted practices, and correlation between the most used climate-smart strategies in subsistence agriculture. Zero-inflated Poisson regression and multivariate analysis are employed using data collected from 704 farm households in Northern Togo. Households' minimum consumption needs, gender, land, access to credit and extension services are the main determinants of the choice of the number of adopted strategies. The use of resistance and high yielding varieties, crops and livestock integration, soil and water conservation practice, the use of organic fertilizer, and adjustment of sowing time are the most adopted farming practices. A strong complementarity between the adopted practices for agriculture development was found. Factors that influence households' choice of adaptation strategies include gender, household location, education level, family size, and allocated labor. Institutional factors including market access, access to credit, and extension services are also key determinants in promoting the use of climate-smart practices that are environmentally friendly.

Are perception and adaptation to climate variability and change of cowpea growers in Mali gender differentiated?

Understanding the gender dimension of climate change perception and choice of adaptation strategies is crucial for policy recommendations that foster the development and integration of gender-responsive climate-smart agricultural interventions into agricultural development programs. This study determined the differences in the perception and choice of adaptation strategies between men and women farmers in Cinzana in the Segou region of Mali. The study used questionnaire interviews involving 260 farmers (49% women) and focus group discussions for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multinomial logit model to understand the determinants of the level of adoption of adaptation strategies. The results showed that, irrespective of gender, majority of farmers perceived climate change as extended period of droughts, shortened duration of rains, increased frequency of strong winds and increased day and night temperatures. While climate change perception was similar between men and women, choice of adaptation strategies differed significantly in most instances. Women farmers were generally low adopters of crop and varieties-related strategies, soil and water conservation technics (contour farming, use of organic manure), etc., compare to men. Notably, being the household head, age and the availability of free labor were found to positively increased farmers’ probability of adopting many adaptation strategies. The study recommends improving women’s access and control of production resources (land, labor) as means to improving their adoption of adaptation strategies.

Smallholder farmers’ adaptation strategies to mitigate the effect of drought on maize production in OR Tambo District municipality

There is evidence that climate variability has affected agriculture and the expectation is that the situation will get worse over time. This study examined smallholder farmers’ adaptation strategies to mitigate the effects of drought on maize production in OR Tambo District in South Africa. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 200 farmers, which was then analyzed using descriptive statistics, the adaptation strategy index and the double hurdle model. The study utilized the adaptation strategy index to establish the relationship between adopting adaptation strategies and maize production. The farmers ranked the adaptation strategies in terms of their usefulness in adapting to drought and successfully alleviating a decline in maize production. The farmers ranked shifting of planting date, reduction of maize cultivated area, planting drought resistant varieties, crop diversification and intercropping as the most useful adaptation strategies. The study utilized the double hurdle model to identify the factors affecting the farmers’ adoption of drought adaptation strategies. The study found that gender of the household head, level of education of the household head, household size, extension services and land ownership influence farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies. Training of woman who head households and poor farmers on climate change adaption strategies options available is necessary.

Socio-economic, social-capital, and psychological characteristics and climate change adaptive behavior of farmers in Iran

In recent years, climate change in Iran has led to frequent droughts and reduction of available water resources. Iranian farmers are extremely vulnerable to unexpected drought. Despite the undesirable impacts of climate change on their vulnerability, farmers have not sufficiently used adaptive strategies; accordingly, we investigated factors affecting farmers’ choice of adaptive strategies to lessen the consequences of climate change in Iran. We propose a framework that covers household, farm, socio-economic, social-capital, and psychological characteristics. Farmers (n = 366) in Fars province, Iran, were selected using a multistage, stratified random sampling method, and data were collected through questionnaires during 2018-2019. Considering the adaptive strategies of changing crop varieties, crop patterns, and irrigation technologies, a multinomial logit model was used. The results showed that off-farm income and access to credit had a significant positive effect on adopting costly and efficient strategies, including changing crop varieties and irrigation technologies. Moreover, our results indicated that when farmers actively participate in social groups, their beliefs and risk perception of climate change become stronger, providing greater incentives to employ adaptive strategies. This study revealed the effective role of social-capital and psychological characteristics in the adaptive behavior of farmers in Iran.

Factors influencing farmers’ awareness and choice of adaptation strategies to climate change by smallholder crop farmers

Climate variability is a global phenomenon and its effects on agricultural productivity have been experienced by developing countries drastically. Climate differences such as high temperatures, drought and long seasons have led to a loss in food production through crop failure, water stress, and human disease outbreak. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate factors influencing farmers’ awareness and choice of adaptation strategies to climate variability by smallholder crop farmers in Libode, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Primary data were purposively collected from 120 smallholder crop farmers. Binary logistic regression was used to estimate factors influencing farmers’ awareness while Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the choice of adaptation strategies employed by crop farmers. Results showed that farmers have perceived climate change and have adapted to changing climatic conditions. The empirical results have showed that socio-economic factors such as years spent in school, land size, farm experience, and extension services affect farmers' awareness positively while age has a negative influence. Few farmers have adjusted their farming practices to account for the effects of climate change. Thus, the study identifies crop diversification and agroforestry as being the most promising strategies with benefits for farmers, the environment and future generations. The government should develop policies aimed at providing and enhancing farmers’ knowledge on climate change. Farmers are encouraged to form farm organizations and be active as to serve as a platform to share knowledge on indigenous and technological farming practices for effective climate change adaptation.

COMPARATIVE ECOLOGYCAL ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF SEASONS ON THE BALANCE OF THE AUTONOMOUS NERVOUS SYSTEM AND FUNCTIONAL HEALTH OF WOMEN OF DIFFERENT AGES

Some functions of the human body and human health are characterized by their change over the seasons. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a leading role in adaptation processes. The capacity of the body’s adaptation reserves, efficiency and choice of adaptation strategy, adequate physiological support and maintenance of homeostasis depend on the state of the ANS. With the help of Functional-vegetative diagnostics according to the method of V. Makats, which is officially approved by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, we examined 3439 women of different ages who underwent sanatorium treatment in Ukraine. The bioelectrical activity of 12 symmetrical pairs of functionally active zones of the skin (24 PHASES), 12 on the arms and 12 on the legs, which reflect the functional activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, was studied. It has been shown that the change of seasons leads to changes in functional activity and homeostasis of the organism. In seasonal indicators of the functional systems activity duplicate the line of the norm, differing in amplitude and having the same direction. The study of functional health showed that this indicator is most stable in the group of girls aged 12–15 years old, regardless of the season. In the group of girls aged 3-6 years old, the largest amplitude of fluctuations in functional health is 35.3–77.7%. In the group of adult women, a reduced ability to adapt was found, which was manifested in all seasons of the year and is evidenced by a reduced number of people in the area of functional balance and a significant increase in the area of parasympathetic activity. Despite the unequal nature of changes in the activity of functional systems under the influence of different seasons of the year on female groups of different ages, increased activity of functional systems is compensated by the suppression of other ones and autonomic coefficient remains within normal 0.95–1.05. In a healthy body, changes in physiological processes and functional activity of systems under the influence of such a factor as the change of seasons are easily compensated. A special role belongs to the autonomic nervous system, the activity of which provides an adequate response of the organism to the influence of environmental factors, which indicates the species evolutionary adaptation of man to seasonal changes in climatic conditions.

Do adults treat equivalent fractions equally? Adults' strategies and errors during fraction reasoning.

Understanding fraction magnitudes is important for achievement and in daily life. However, adults' fraction reasoning sometimes appears to reflect whole number bias and other times reflects accurate reasoning. In the current experiments, we examined how contextual factors and individual differences in executive functioning (Experiment 1), knowledge of fraction equivalence (both experiments), and strategy use (Experiment 2) influenced adults' fraction reasoning. Adults were only biased by fraction components when reasoning about fractions as holistic magnitudes was difficult: when estimating under a time constraint, when estimating fractions with large components, or when comparing fractions close in decimal distance. However, adults' knowledge of fraction equivalence moderated the effects of whole number components on their fraction estimation performance: when modeled at low levels of equivalence knowledge, adults were biased by fraction components when estimating. Adults with more knowledge of fraction equivalence were able to reason about fractions as holistic magnitudes through adaptive strategy choices. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Determinants of Choice of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies among Rural Farming Households in Lokoja Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria

The study examined factors influencing the choice of climate change adaptation strategies among rural farming households in Lokoja Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria. A total of 115 rural farmers constitute the sample size for this study. Descriptive and relevant inferential statistics such as multivariate probit model were used. The perceived effects of climate change in the study area were erosion/flooding, increase in rainfall, scarce of resources, increase in temperature, and increase in pest and disease infestation. The major adaptation strategies adopted by the farmers in the study area were change in planting date (72.17%), change in harvesting date (67.83%), construction of drainage around homes/farms (67.83%), income diversification (64.35%), and planting cover crops (58.26%). The result of the factors influencing choice of adaptation showed that gender, age, years of farming experience, access to credit, and training on climate change were the factors that influenced the choice of adaptation strategies in the study area. The major constraints to adoption of adaptation strategies in the study area were identified. The study concluded that selected socio-economic characteristics influenced the choice of rural farmers` adaptation strategies utilized in the study area. Government policies should be sensitive to support of trainings on climate change, education, credit access, farm size and household size

New Technologies and Innovative Solutions in the Development Strategies of Energy Enterprises

Energy companies face challenges arising from the ecological, social and legal environment. The reduction of negative impact on the environment and society while maintaining sustainable development affects the formation of new development strategies and push to introduce the state of art innovative technologies. The main aim of the research is to analyze the importance and role of the adaptation strategy to external requirements and to determine the mechanisms of the occurrence of passive and active adaptation. As a new approach to carrying out strategic analysis, two models were used simultaneously (inductive and hypothetical-deductive) which allows for realization qualitative (interviews, observations) and quantitative (statistical analysis) research methods generally called mixed methods. The study was conducted on the basis of mixed-method analysis of adaptations strategies of enterprises from the energy sector. The results of the conducted research show the influence of particular macroeconomic elements (e.g. technologies, ecologies) on making strategic decisions. The issue of adapting an enterprise to its environment is also related to its involvement in the research and development (R&D) sphere. Depending on the size of the company there are different amounts dedicated to R&D. Regulations and the technological environment force innovations of energy companies in the direction of reducing harmful impact on the environment and society. Legal and political factors (both national and EU) determine the activities of power companies (in each group: small, medium and large) and determine the choice of adaptation strategies. The intensity of adaptation to the requirements of the environment changes depends on the size of the company. Power companies apply passive adaptation strategies and as they increase their position on the market, they begin to implement an active adaptation strategy.

Climate change resilience and adaption of ethnic minority communities in the upland area in Thừa Thiên-Huế province, Vietnam

Changing climate patterns and increases in climate extremes pose new challenges to livelihoods of ethnic communities in the upland area in Thừa Thiên-Huế (TTH) province. Unpredictability and extreme events have had adverse effects on both farming and income of many ethnic minority households who are already more likely to be vulnerable due to socio-economic and cultural marginalization. Promoting household resilience to climate extremes has emerged as a key development priority for those living in this area. Using data from a household survey conducted in two upland districts of TTH province (Nam Đông and A Lưới), this study employed FAO’s resilience framework to measure household climate change resilience of different ethnic groups and a Poison regression model to identify determinants of household adaptation. Results showed that ethnic minority households had relatively low resilience to climate change and variability with the resilience index only 0.428. Due to geographic isolation, agriculture-dependent ethnic minority households in A Lưới were least resilient to climate change. Results suggest that interventions aimed at promoting climate resilience for ethnic minority households should focus on increasing people’s knowledge of climate change and associated impacts and risks; and improving household income, savings and strengthen household asset base. Almost all households in the study areas have adopted adaptation measures, such as adjusting the seasonal calendar for crop production; using local crop varieties; practicing mixed cropping; and mulching. Education level, climate change awareness and risk perception of the household head, household income source and ability to access credit were key elements of households’ choice of adaptation strategies.

Analysis of Climate Variability and Adaptive Strategies of Rural Household: The Case of Abobo District and Itang Special Districts, Gambella Region State, Ethiopia

Many low-income regions are largely affected by climate change impacts as a result of their relatively low adaptive capacity as pointed out by IPCC. Particularly, the change of climate has adverse implications to the Ethiopian economy with connection to different climatic parameters. The main objective of this study was to examine climate variability and its effect on rural households in Abobo District and Itang Special District. Both primary and secondary data were collected during the study. For this study, 240 HHs were interviewed from both Abobo District and Itang Special District while FDGs and KII were collected qualitatively. Relevant secondary data were also obtained from the National Meteorology Agency of Gambella station. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the characteristics of sample households and farmers' perception of climate variability. Moreover, multivariate probit model was employed to identify the determinants of smallholder farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies to climate variability. The result indicated that the major adaptation strategies applied by smallholder farmers in the study area including the use of improved crop varieties, adjusting the planting date, planting trees, crop diversification and using drought-resistant crop. Multivariate Probit model result shows that age, education, farm income, extension contact and access to credit significantly affect HHs choose of improved verity as adoption strategy; total land hold, farm income and extension contact significantly affect HHs choose of adjusting planting date tree as adoption strategy; farm income is the only factor significantly affect HHs choose of planting tree as adoption strategy; age, education, farm income and access to credit significantly affect HHs choose of crop diversification as adoption strategy and education and access to credit significantly affect HHs choose of improved verity as adoption strategy.

Major Climate risks and Adaptation Strategies of Smallholder Farmers in Coastal Bangladesh

Rural households in South Asia’s coastal deltas face numerous livelihood challenges, including risks posed by climatic variability and extreme weather events. This study examines major climate risks, farmers’ adaptation strategies, and the factors affecting the choice of those strategies using data collected from 630 households in southwestern coastal Bangladesh. Farmers identified cyclones, excessive rain and flooding, and salinity as direct climate risks. Increased crop diseases/pests and livestock diseases were perceived as indirect risks resulting from climatic variability. Farmers used multiple adaptation strategies against those risks such as modifications in farm management, use of savings and borrowing funds from family and neighbors, and periodically reducing household food consumption. Off-farm employment and seeking assistance from governmental as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were also common adaptation strategies. The results show that male-headed households are more likely to change farming practices and reduce consumption compared with female-headed households that conversely tended to take assistance from NGOs as an adaptation strategy. Ownership of land and livestock, as well as farmers’ prior exposure to climate change and educational training, also had a significant effect on the choice of adaptation strategy. Therefore, development interventions and policies that aimed at improving resource endowment and training to farmers on climatic risks and their adaptation strategies can help minimize the impact of climatic risks.

Factors that Influence Banana Farmers Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change in Meru County Kenya

Food production among rural farmers globally has been threatened by climate change impacts leading to food scarcity. Small holder farmers face challenges in the choice of appropriate adaptive mechanisms when responding to the impacts associated with climate change. Several case studies have focused on adaptive strategies related to crop production with limited attention on the socioeconomic factors influencing adaptation strategies towards climate change with reference to specific crops. Thus, a study was carried out in Meru County, Kenya to evaluate the socio-economic factors that influence banana farmer’s adaptation strategies to climate change. The study site was in Imenti south sub-county which was purposively selected due to its long-term history of banana farming. Field survey techniques were used in the data collection where 251 banana farmers were sampled and data collected using open ended questionnaires and focus group discussions. Logit regression model was used to determine the socioeconomic factors influencing farmers’ choice of adaptation strategy to climate change. The study realized that irrigation and shifting planting dates were the most preferred adaptation strategies among small holder’s banana farmers at 84.9% and 4.8% respectively. Land acreage under banana production, age of the household head, access to extension services, access to financial facilities, agro ecological zone setting and perception to climate change were significant in explaining the farmers’ adaption of irrigation as a strategy. Further, provision of climate information to farmers will enhance promotion of crop diversification, adoption of drought tolerant banana varieties and shifting of planting dates thus enhancing resilience of farming systems in the short-term.

Farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies towards weather variability: Empirical evidence from the three agro-ecological zones in Ghana

This study analyzed factors that influence farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies toward weather variability and food crop production. The study used a cross-sectional data from 622 randomly sele...

DRIVERS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN ARTISANAL FISHERIES. A CASE OF MALAWI

This study was conducted to understand fishers’ climate change adaptation decisions in order to move climate informed policy for artisanal fisheries in developing economies forward. Data were collected from a random sample of 220 fishers in Mangochi District in Malawi. A binary probit model and a multivariate probit model were used to assess factors that affect fishers’ decision to adapt to climate change and their choice of adaptation strategies respectively. The study found that factors such as sex, education level, fishing experience, household size, fishing income, perception of catch rate trend, social capital and access to extension service corresponded in an increase in the probability of fishers adapting to impacts of climate change by increasing fishing effort, engaging in migratory fishing, investing in improved gear and livelihood diversification. The study recommends strengthening the education system in riparian communities to equip fishers with skills employable outside fishing and at the same time relive pressure off aquatic ecosystems.

Smallholder Farmers’ Perception and Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change and Variability in Ankesha Guagusa District of Awi Zone, North Western Ethiopia

Agriculture is the main source of livelihood for rural communities in Ethiopia which is highly sensitive to Climate change and variability. Farmers should adapt and their decision to adapt depends on their perception to climate change and variability and other socio-economic factors. The main objective of this study was to assess smallholder farmers’ perception, identifying the major adaptation strategies and determinant factors that affect farmers’ choices of adaptation to climate change and variability in Ankesha Guagusa district, Awi Zone, Ethiopia. Descriptive statistics were employed to assess farmers’ socio- demographic characteristics, perceptions and adaptation measures. A Multi-Nominal Logit model (MNL) was also used to identify the determinant factors that influence the choice of farmer’s adaptation strategies. The study finds that, most of the local farmers perceived decreasing in the amount of seasonal rainfal1, increasing in temperature, increased frequency of drought and flood. In response to these impacts of climate change and variability; farmers used crop diversification, improved and early maturing crops, planting trees and engaging on off-farm activities, credit and taking loss as the most dominant adaptation strategies. The MNL regression analysis showed that agro ecology of woina dega (AEZWD), age, sex, education, family size, farm size, farming experience, income, livestock holding (TLU), access to extension services, credit, access to irrigation and water harvesting schemes and Perception to climate change and variability were the key determinant factors influencing farmers’ choice of adaptation strategies to climate change and variability. farmers’ adaptive capacity is hindered by different factors and focusing on addressing these factors efforts should be made to develop and implement integrated policies and strategies that enhance access to income and farm inputs, agricultural extension services, livelihood diversification, farmers’ awareness on climate change required to build resilience of communities and promote a transition to climate-smart agriculture. Keywords : Climate Change and variability, Perception, Adaptation Strategies, Determinants, MNL model, Ethiopia DOI : 10.7176/JESD/11-1-05 Publication date: January 31 st 2020

Peer effects and the choice of adaptation strategies

AbstractThis paper analyzes the impact of peer choices on the decision to adapt to climate change in rural Ethiopia. Two IVs are employed (peer‐of‐peer choices and peer‐of‐peer information sources) in order to tackle the issue of endogeneity. Through the use of a 3‐year panel of farmers in the Nile Basin region, we find that peer choices positively affect the uptake of different adaptation strategies. A 10 percentage point increase in the share of peers using a specific strategy translates to an increase in the likelihood of adaptation between approximately 7% and 14%. This emphasizes the importance of social networks to achieve adaptation to climate change in sub‐Saharan Africa.

Farm households’ risk perception, attitude and adaptation strategies in dealing with climate change: Promise and perils from rural Pakistan

Pakistan is highly vulnerable to extreme climatic events, such as floods and droughts. This study determines the farmers’ risk perception, risk attitude, adaptation measures and various aspects of vulnerability to climate change (e.g. floods, droughts, heavy rainfalls, pests and disease) at farm level in rural Pakistan. The risk perception and attitude of farm households are crucial factors that influence farm productivity, investment and management decisions at this level. A well-designed questionnaire was used to interview 720 farm households from six districts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A binary logit model was used to determine the main factors that affect the choice of adaptation strategies of the farm household. The findings revealed that crop diversification, changing crop varieties, altering the crop calendar, varying the fertilizer used, mulching and farm insurance were the main adaptation strategies followed by farm households. The results of the binary logit model revealed that age, education, farm size, household size, credit accessibility, annual income and the perception on the increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall had significant influence on the selection of the adaption strategies. The findings of this study can provide guidance, policy recommendations and reference for future researchers.