Response Of Farmers Research Articles

Factors Influencing Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices Adoption and Crop Productivity among Smallholder Farmers in Nyimba District, Zambia

Climate change significantly affects smallholder farmers, whose livelihoods are closely tied to the environment. This study explores factors influencing the adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices and their impact on crop productivity among small-scale farmers in Nyimba District, Zambia. Data were collected from 194 households across 12 villages, and logistic regression and propensity score matching analyses were employed to identify key factors and evaluate CSA’s effects on crop yields. Findings revealed that CSA adoption is influenced by factors such as education level, household size, fertilizer use, age, gender, farming experience, livestock ownership, income, farmland size, marital status, and access to climate-related information. CSA adopters experienced a 20.20% increase in overall crop yields compared to non-adopters, with a 21.50% increase in maize yields specifically. The study underscores the need for targeted interventions to support CSA adoption through education, improved dissemination of climate information, and access to critical resources such as improved seeds and financial services. This research offers insights for policymakers and extension services to develop evidence-based strategies enhancing resilience and productivity among smallholder farmers in response to climate challenges.

Farmers' intention to adopt low-carbon agricultural technologies to mitigate climate change

Climate change is one of the main crises in the world primarily due to greenhouse gas emissions. The agricultural sector is a key factor in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, this study aims to analyze farmers' intentions to use low-carbon agricultural technologies. Based on a theoretical framework adapted from the comprehensive action determination model, data were collected through questionnaires distributed among 373 farmers in the southern region of West Azarbaijan province, Iran. Factors influencing farmers' intentions were identified using a structural equation model. The results indicated that attitude (β = 0.532), habits (β = 0.282), and objective constraints (β = 0.105) significantly influenced farmers’ intentions to adopt low-carbon agricultural technologies. The model predicted 68.4% of the variance in farmers' intentions. All predictors in the comprehensive action determination model demonstrated robustness and significant positive relationships, except for subjective constraints. Additionally, the model effectively explained normative processes, habitual processes, situational influences, and intentional processes among farmers. This research suggests policy solutions to promote the adoption of low-carbon agricultural technologies by farmers in response to climate change, thereby fostering sustainable agriculture in the region. When developing future plans for climate change adaptation, planners should use the comprehensive action determination model as a fundamental guideline. This model is essential for both mitigating climate change and enhancing behavioral intentions, which are critical objectives.

Climate-smart water management practices for sustainable agriculture in Uganda

ABSTRACT The aim of the study is to assess climate-smart water management practices for sustainable agriculture in the Lake Mutanda catchment area, Kisoro District, Uganda. The study was led by specific objectives, specifically: assessing the effects of flooding on agricultural productivity, and smallholder farmer's responses to rainfall variability for the past 20–30 years, investigating climate-smart water management practices for sustainable agriculture, and analyzing the seasonal variations of the physicochemical water quality parameters. The study used a mixed research design, which used mixed methodologies to collect and analyze data using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. A straightforward random sampling approach was used to determine the sample size. Three hundred and ninety-seven respondents participated in the study. Quantitative data was analyzed using the R programming language, and qualitative data was analyzed using ATLAS.ti. The study identified climate-smart water management practices like mulching, terracing, contour farming, conservation tillage, agroforestry, and fertilizer management. Most of the respondents (29.7%) cited a reduction in soil fertility, 57.9% of the total sampled respondents had noticed changes in rainfall variability, and 67.3% reported a decrease in rainfall. The majority (38% of the participants) use mulching to reduce running water into the catchment areas. Turbidity, temperature, and DO were beyond the WHO-permitted levels.

Rural Area Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic as Exemplified by Urban–Rural Communes in Poland

The purpose of the paper is to characterize the outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic for farms and resilience activities performed by farmers in response to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of building rural area resilience. Research was carried out in all 87 urban–rural communes in Poland and focused on special determinants of rural resilience such as connections between small cities and rural areas, as well as the location of the territorial unit (peripheral versus non-peripheral). The purpose of the survey was to poll local government representatives on the outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic for farms and identify resilience activities performed by farmers in response to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Empirical research was performed from September to October 2021. The results emphasize the significance of the diversification of farms and networks for strategies for coping with the COVID-19 crisis. The research revealed processes wherein farms adapted, even if to a small extent, to crisis conditions. The COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges, at the same time stimulating innovative responses in communities and businesses in rural areas. This study also confirms the role of ITC solutions in the process of adaptation to the crisis and implies a need to strengthen local links between the rural area and the city, especially those relevant to peripheral areas. Local government authorities play a crucial role in this process.

Is badger culling associated with risk compensation behaviour among cattle farmers?

Risk compensation theory suggests that behaviours are modified in response to interventions that remove risks by substituting them with other risky behaviours to maintain a 'risk equilibrium'. Alternatively, risk reduction interventions may result in spill-over behaviours that seek to minimise risks further. This paper assessed evidence for these behavioural risk responses among farmers in response to badger culling that seeks to remove the risk of bovine tuberculosis in cattle. Data from the UK's randomised badger culling trial were re-analysed, comparing farmers' cattle movement practices in proactive and reactive culling areasand control areas. Analysis compared cattle movementsduring and after the trial using zero-inflated negative binomial regression. The analysis found no strong evidence of risk compensation behaviours among farmers who experienced proactive culling. However, strong evidence for a reduction in cattle movements in reactive culling areas was found. The results indicate high levels of inertia within farming systems in relation to cattle purchasing. Data do not account for the risk of cattle purchases and reflect previous policy regimens. Evidence from recent badger culling interventions should be analysed. Proactive badger culling was not associated with risk compensation behaviours, while reactive badger culling was associated with decreased risk taking among farmers.

Disruption in Agricultural Pattern Due to Unpredictable Weather Conditions and its Effect on Farmer’s Family of Kishanganj District of Bihar

The unpredictable weather conditions due to climate change have resulted in significant changes in global weather patterns, affecting various sectors across the world; mostly the agriculture sector which got affected. This study focusses on the changing agricultural patterns caused by climate change and their severe effects on farmers’ livelihoods in the Kishanganj District of Bihar. The purpose of this study is to look at the dynamic interaction between changing weather patterns and agricultural practices and the socioeconomic implications for the local farming community. This study intends (1) to explore farmers’ perceptions and their experience of climate change towards agricultural practices, (2) to understand the adaptive techniques used by farmers in the Kishanganj district of Bihar in response to altering the agricultural patterns, (3) to assess the socioeconomic consequences of shifting agricultural patterns on farmers’ lives. Through a comprehensive literature review and primary data collection, including in-depth interviews with local farmers, to discover variations in agricultural patterns, changing weather patterns, and changes in farming practices adopted by the farmers in response to unpredictable weather conditions. From the findings of this study, it is revealed that the agricultural sector in Kishanganj is extremely vulnerable to unpredictable weather patterns, such as severe droughts, unseasonal rainfall, and temperature variations. The changing weather patterns have resulted in significant crop loss, which resulted in lower agricultural production, less income, and more debt for farmers’ families. The negative effects of weather-related disruptions extend beyond economic factors, affecting both farmers’ families and food security.

Heat-Related Knowledge, Risk Perception, and Precautionary Behavior among Indonesian Forestry Workers and Farmers: Implications for Occupational Health Promotion in the Face of Climate Change Impacts

Forestry workers play a crucial role in implementing forest management programs, but their outdoor work exposes them to rising temperatures caused by global climate change, which poses potential health risks related to heat. This study specifically investigates the relationship between knowledge of heat-related issues, risk perception, and precautionary behavior among Indonesian forestry workers and paddy farmers in response to the escalating workplace heat exposure. Developing effective precautionary behavior is essential for preventing heat-related health disorders and promoting health protection programs. To investigate the association of the latent variables comprehensively, structured interviews were conducted with two occupational groups of outdoor workers, comprising 210 forestry workers and 215 paddy farmers. The findings indicate that increasing knowledge about heat-related issues promotes precautionary behavior, and risk perception acts as a mediator between knowledge and behavior. Additionally, the study highlights that the emotion of “dread” intensifies the perceived risk and predicts positive behavior changes. To enhance heat-related knowledge, exploring the potential use of a “fear” tone is important. In conclusion, comprehensive strategies should be implemented to promote precautionary behavior among forestry workers, particularly manual laborers, who are more vulnerable compared to farmers.

Nature of climate change-induced risks in semi-arid northwestern Ghana: Gauged observations, perceptions of smallholder farmers, and perspectives for livelihood adaptation

Climate variability and impact have been an endemic challenge to smallholder farmers who largely depend on rainy weather for livelihoods in semi-arid north-western Ghana. Many households in semi-arid regions exhibit low levels of adaptive capacity due to ineffective adaptation strategies and poor coping strategies. This study examined (1) trends in gauged rainfall and temperature data spanning the period from 1984 to 2014 and (2) smallholder farmers’ perceptions about yearly cyclical weather, and difficulties associated with climate change adaptations. The study adopted the participatory rural appraisal design using questionnaire, interviews and focus group discussions for collection of data for analysis. Estimated parameters partially supported that yearly temperatures are increasing, whereas annual rainfall is declining, although the latter is not significantly related to the former. Smallholder farmers’ perceptions about changing weather conditions did not corroborate the observed declining annual rainfall trend. These farmers are faced with livelihood-affecting risks during either ‘prolonged dry periods from October to May’ or ‘short annual rainy season from mid-May to September. Therefore, access to climate information and available climate adaptation strategies could improve farming activities and livelihoods of farmers in response to climate change.

Drought did not change the linear relationship between chlorophyll fluorescence and terrestrial gross primary production under universal biomes

IntroductionSatellite observations of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) are increasingly considered a “probe” for photosynthesis. In recent years the emergence of SIF has facilitated regional and global monitoring of vegetation photosynthesis. On the one hand, there is still controversy about the liner or non-linear SIF-GPP relationship and whether high-temperature events will change the linear relationship. On the other hand, it is unclear whether different vegetation types will affect the SIF-GPP. We used GOSIF and MOD17A2 GPP to study the different relationships under five vegetation types during the long-term climate change period and the extreme drought in 2009/2010 in southwest China.MethodsIn this study, curve fitting was used to explore the relationship of SIF and GPP under long time series and extreme drought period.ResultsWe found that during the long-term climate change period, there was a generally linear SIF-GPP relationship under five vegetation types. The correlation is almost universally maintained at the r2 = 0.92 level. During the drought, the extremely high temperature did not change the linear relationship. Besides the farmland ecosystem, the correlation remained at the r2 = 0.85.DiscussionOur study shows that the linear relationship of SIF-GPP is not influenced by drought on a large scale, and there is a general SIF-GPP relationship in different vegetation types. In the case of extreme drought, irrigation measures adopted by farmers in response to heat conditions may affect the SIF-GPP relationship of farmland.

FARMERS’ RESPONSE TOWARD KARTU TANI PROGRAM IN LIMANGAN SUB DISTRICT, KENDAL REGENCY

This research was conducted in Limbangan Subdistrict Kendal District with the purpose to determine the response’s level of farmers toward “Kartu Tani” program and its influencing factors. Survey approach by descriptive was used in this research. From Limbangan Subdistrict was chosen purposively by 3 (three) sample villages with the most farmers receiving “Kartu Tani” which are Gondang Village, Limbangan Village, and Peron Village. From each of the sample village was chosen purposively by1 (one) sample farmers group with the most members receiving “Kartu Tani” which are Wahyu Gondang Makmur, Ngudi Rahayu, and Kadang Maju. From each farmer group was taken 10 members with random simple; in addition, each sample village was taken 10 farmers who aren’t members of the farmer group, so as a whole, there were 60 farmers who received the “Kartu Tani” as respondents. The analysis method used is the proportion test and multiple linear regression analysis. The average farmer has a moderate or hesitant response toward “Kartu Tani” program. Factors affecting the farmer's response are the level of education, perception, and membership status in the farmer group. The higher level of farmer education and the better perception of farmers cause the higher response toward “Kartu Tani” program; farmers who are members of the group have a higher response than farmers who aren’t members of farmer groups. Factors that don’t affect the farmer's response toward “Kartu Tani” program are age, motivation, and extension agents.

Stakeholder perspectives on cocoa’s living income differential and sustainability trade-offs in Ghana

Policy responses to balance the trade-offs between nature conservation and socioeconomic development have recently come to the fore in Ghana – the world’s second largest producer of cocoa. In 2019, the Government of Ghana introduced the Living Income Differential (LID), which requires buyers to pay an additional US$400 per ton of cocoa on top of the floor price. With low farmer incomes identified as a critical driver of multiple sustainability issues in Ghana’s cocoa sector, this differential is meant to be directly transferred to cocoa farmers in response to the persistent challenge of poverty in cocoa farming communities. Using the Q methodology, we engaged over 50 stakeholders from various levels (international policy experts, cocoa sector stakeholders in Ghana, and cocoa farmers) to understand how the LID is perceived, including its potential to transform the rural poverty complex embedded in Ghana’s cocoa supply chain. While the LID is lauded for increasing producer price across the board, our findings indicate that the lack of regard for farmer diversity (i.e., tenure rights, sharecroppers, and caretakers), farm size, and land management strategies (agroforestry versus clearing forest to establish farms) risks undermining the ability of this pricing mechanism to reduce farmer poverty. Further, the LID is siloed from on-going sustainability governance efforts in the sector, such as zero deforestation cocoa. If the LID is delivered to farmers across the board without any quid pro quo for how cocoa is produced, the policy’s unintended consequences may include increasing deforestation in the short term, while lowering the world market price of cocoa in the long term as cocoa supply increases. We conclude with policy implications on why different perspectives matter in managing sustainability trade-offs in deforestation frontiers.

Continuity, change and new ways of being: An exploratory assessment of farmer's experiences and responses to public health restrictions during the COVID‐19 pandemic in a rural Irish community

AbstractFarming occupations are, in the Global North, generally solitary, and a growing body of research identifies this as one of the factors that underpins low levels of wellbeing and poor mental health amongst farmers. The primary public health response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic focused on reducing transmission of the virus by limiting interactions of people. This article seeks to assess the impact of these restrictions on farmer's experience of isolation and how it shaped their wellbeing. Applying a broad socio‐ecological framework, we analyse change, continuity and shifts in social and economic relations and their spatial reconfiguration during the COVID‐19 pandemic as recounted in semi‐structured, qualitative interviews. We found that while COVID‐19 has disrupted socio‐spatial relations, including key sites of socialisation for farmers and rural communities, occupational isolation was viewed as a positive feature of farming as was working in nature. Familial and informal networks of support were important throughout the pandemic, while novel engagements with communication technologies facilitated both change and continuity of social and economic interaction. Whilst these findings are broadly positive, the reconfiguration of, particularly, economic relations is viewed as accelerating the turn towards service delivery using technology and, consequently, further reducing opportunities for social interaction.

Farmer's Perception and Responses to Climate Change and their Adaptive Mechanism in Kailali, Nepal

Farmer's Perception and Responses to Climate Change and their Adaptive Mechanism in Kailali, Nepal

Exploring farmers' perceptions and lessons learned from the 2015–2018 drought in the Western Cape, South Africa

The agricultural sector is one of the most vulnerable sectors to the impacts of climate change. Between 2015 and 2018, the Western Cape Province of South Africa experienced a multi-year severe drought. Projections show that the Western Cape is likely to experience hotter and drier conditions, with more frequent droughts. Without appropriate adaptation actions, climate change is likely to increasingly constrain agricultural activities in the province. Commercial farmers represent a considerable population of decision-makers, which are fundamental to climate change adaptation. Understanding farmers' perceptions is important to develop effective policy, support structures, and communications. This study aimed to understand wheat farmers' and apple producers' perceptions of climate change and adaptation in the Western Cape, South Africa, and establish whether the recent drought offered lessons for adaptation. Study methods included the use of an online questionnaire as well as several in-depth interviews with farmers and producers. Results showed that most farmers and producers agree that climate change is real and is caused by human activities. Most farmers and producers in the region are already actively (or intend to start) preparing for climate change (69%). In response to climate change, apple producers view on-farm water management (such as irrigation management and water recycling) as the most important strategy. Wheat farmers strategies are focused on crop management (including cultivar selection and conservation agriculture). Many farmers and producers further agreed that they had learnt from the past 2015–2018 drought. Notably, results showed that farmers and producers who rely a great deal on weather forecasts were more likely to feel that their farm's response was effective. Furthermore, it was found that farmers and producers who felt they learned from the drought were also more likely to be actively preparing for climate risks. It is recommended that investments into climate change adaptation focus on research and development, particularly with regard to cultivar development, irrigation management, tailored weather forecasting, and localised risk assessments. Policy should prioritise the more vulnerable farmers and producers while focusing on integrated risk reduction measures which account for multiple stressors.

Adaptation Methods Practiced by Farmers in Response to Perceived Climate Change in Andhra Pradesh

The study was aimed at analyzing adaptation methods practiced by farmers’ and determining factors for adoption to climate change in the Andhra Pradesh (Zone-1 and Zone-6). A cross sectional household survey (by employing structured interview schedule), participant observations and focused PRA were conducted to collect the information on adaptation methods being practiced by 320 randomly selected farmers. The study employed descriptive statistics to types of adaptation measures exercised to cope up with the risk of the change in climate. The study also employed the multinomial logit regression to analyze the determinants of adaptation method extracted. Factors such as age, education, number of crops cultivated, use of new technology, extension participation, contact and farmer’s commitment are the common determinants for adoption of practices.

Determinants of Land use and Cropping Pattern Changes in Kerala

Land is one of the most limited natural resources and land use dynamics is a complex process The present study examined the causes of land use and cropping pattern changes in Kerala from 1985–2019. The time series data were collected from various published sources and the analysis was done at the state level. Population pressure, increase in number of factories, emigration, literacy rate, rainfall etc., were identified as the major causes of land use change in Kerala. The analysis of determinants of cropping pattern was done for paddy using the area response model and it was observed that the previous year's area under the crop, expected price of paddy, and average annual rainfall positively influenced the farmer's acreage response.

Socio-Economic Implications and Potential Structural Adaptations of the Tunisian Agricultural Sector to Climate Change

Climate change is expected to have serious economic and social impacts on Tunisian rural farmers. The extent of these impacts will largely depend on the level of political and structural adaptations. This study aims to evaluate the effect of increasing water shortages on agricultural income and employment. It also analyzes structural adaptation strategies implemented by farmers in response to this challenge. We have therefore developed a regionally disaggregated supply model to simulate three types of scenarios concerning (i) decreasing quantities of irrigation water at the regional level; (ii) enhanced irrigation water use efficiency; and (iii) higher production prices. Observed crop production data for 21 crops and 24 districts of Tunisia have been used. Districts have been aggregated into five regions based on bioclimatic homogeneity. Results show that climate change will lead to the reduction of irrigated areas and an increased importance of rainfed agriculture. It will also have a negative impact on farm income and employment. This negative effect can be fully mitigated by improving water use efficiency, at farm and perimeter levels, and can be reversed by offering more attractive producer prices to farmers through enhanced value chain integration.

Continuity under change: Towards a spatiotemporal understanding of market-oriented urban and peri-urban agriculture – Insights from Kenya

Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) operates in an ambiguous relation to rapid urban growth. While urban expansion constrains farmers' access to land and resources, resulting in a replacement of UPA, proximity to expanding urban economies creates new market opportunities leading to enduring UPA. While the literature on UPA in the Global South is burgeoning, little attention has been paid to market-oriented forms of UPA under rapid urban growth. In this paper, we analyse the spatiotemporal dynamics of UPA and market-oriented farmer's responses to changing socio-spatial circumstances in two rapidly growing Kenyan cities: Nyeri and Nakuru. By conceptualizing UPA's enduring existence as continuity under change, we develop a spatiotemporal understanding of market-oriented UPA that goes beyond a dominant dichotomous view on replacement versus persistence. Based on a mixed-methods approach combining geospatial analysis with quantitative and qualitative interviews, our findings show that the continued existence of market-oriented agriculture in the city is connected to highly dynamic processes of commercialization, specialization, and intensification. We conclude that market-oriented farmers are not inevitably pushed out of the city, but rather that they are – under certain conditions – able to actively respond to the pressures as well as opportunities that emerge during rapid urban growth.

Simultaneous adoption of diversification and agricultural credit to manage catastrophic risk for maize production in Bangladesh.

Risk management strategies are made up of response variability that may lessen the likeliness of an unfavorable event occurring and/or decrease the damaging consequences if that event happens. To minimize the risk, farmers respond in three ways which are considered to be risk managing tools; these are production, marketing, and financial responses. This study aimed to look at the potential associations and effects of implementing multiple risk management techniques at the same time, as very limited number of research is available in this field. Stratified random sampling technique was used to collect 350 farmer's responses from four different agro-ecological districts of Bangladesh. This study applied bivariate and multinomial probit models to investigate the effects of social and farm features, farmers' views of disastrous risk, and their attitudes toward risk sources, as well as potential associations between diversification and agricultural credit as a risk management tool. The outcomes identified the correlation between adoptions of multiple risk management strategies and concluded that one risk management approach can convince farmers to follow another at the same time. Moreover, the outcomes observed that age, educational status, farm size, family returns, land ownership, and risk-opposed character of farmers were the most persuading aspects for adopting different risk management strategies. Besides, the results presented other interpretations and information which will clarify farmer's actions when it comes to handling various devastating risks and will also provide the policymakers with a platform to prepare for appropriate risk managing plans concerning farmers.

The paradox of cultivating community resiliency: Re-agrarianisation and De-peasantisation of indigenous farmers in Taiwan

The past decade has witnessed an emerging interest in growing quinoa in indigenous townships in Taiwan, which has overlapped with the recovery effort from disasters following Typhoon Morakot in 2009. This paper critically examines the acclaim given to the quinoa boom as testifying to the community resilience of the indigenous people displaced by disasters and relocation policies. Tracing the changing socio-ecologies of the indigenous communities, the case study observes the simultaneous reagrarianization and depeasantization of indigenous farmers in response to a series of crises. It illustrates the ongoing depeasantization underneath the expansion of quinoa growing, which is engendering a set of paradoxical practices of community resilience that is restructuring the landscape of communities.