Climate change is the major cause of the world’s food insecurity and agricultural sustainability crises. The chapter deals with the farmers’ basics in climate change, the worries of farmers and the struggle of farmers against the likely impacts of erosion. IPCC researches that the world has now raised 1 °C from its industrials and the temperature will continue to rise more in the future. This rising in temperature is connected to extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, floods and erratic rainfall patterns which significantly affect agricultural production. The very people who provide our daily sustenance through their agricultural activities, are the ones on the frontlines of climate change these changes are evident through the changing weather patterns and growing seasons getting disrupted. Their perceptions of climate change are therefore impacted by a range of elements; geographic location, socio-economic background and farming experience being some of them. Surveys, interviews and focus groups are the best ways of assessing people’s perceptions and understanding farmers’ level of awareness, the information sources they use and the attribution of climate change (human activities vs. natural variability). A growing number of studies show that farmers are now realizing the fact that climate change is real and it can affect their way of living. Aside from these worries, economic issues like loss of income, increased debt and acquiring loans can be considered. In addition, there is the environmental issue of sustainability of their practice, natural resources degradation and the loss of biodiversity. Social concerns about food security, the displacement of farmers and the disruption of rural communities also emphasize the multi-faceted nature of this problem. But despite their readiness to adapt, farmers face quite a few difficulties. Financial constraints, limited access to new technologies and credit and knowledge gaps on successful adaptation strategies are very critical challenges. Besides, the institutional problems like the inefficient policies, the lack of infrastructure and the inadequate market support for adaptation are also the factors that hinder the progress. The adaptation strategies applied by farmers can be grouped into agronomic methods (crop diversification, soil conservation), technological options (climate resilient crop varieties, precision agriculture) and institutional mechanisms (access to climate information services, government assistance programs) Although these approaches provide economic, environmental, sustainable and social benefits; problems like financial constraints, lack of information, institutional and socio-cultural barriers still keep them from attaining global popularity. The enhancement of the farmers’ capacity for adaptation is a dynamic process. Educational and extension programs will provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to improve their practices. Financial incentives and support schemes are tools to reduce financial impediments and encourage the use of new technology. Community partnerships and networks can be enhanced to support the sharing of information and peer learning. Finally, integrating traditional knowledge with modern ways is utilizing the knowledge of our predecessor’s side-by-side with the scientific and technological advancements of today. This type of collaborative approach is important to sustain agricultural systems and global food security in a changing climate.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Farmers’ Beliefs and Concerns About Climate Change and Their Adaptation Behaviour to Combat Climate Change

  • Harshit Mishra,
  • Rashmi Mishra,
  • Ioannis Adamopoulos,
  • Fredrick Kayusi,
  • Muhammad Yousaf Raza,
  • Hasnain Shamshad

摘要

Climate change is the major cause of the world’s food insecurity and agricultural sustainability crises. The chapter deals with the farmers’ basics in climate change, the worries of farmers and the struggle of farmers against the likely impacts of erosion. IPCC researches that the world has now raised 1 °C from its industrials and the temperature will continue to rise more in the future. This rising in temperature is connected to extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, floods and erratic rainfall patterns which significantly affect agricultural production. The very people who provide our daily sustenance through their agricultural activities, are the ones on the frontlines of climate change these changes are evident through the changing weather patterns and growing seasons getting disrupted. Their perceptions of climate change are therefore impacted by a range of elements; geographic location, socio-economic background and farming experience being some of them. Surveys, interviews and focus groups are the best ways of assessing people’s perceptions and understanding farmers’ level of awareness, the information sources they use and the attribution of climate change (human activities vs. natural variability). A growing number of studies show that farmers are now realizing the fact that climate change is real and it can affect their way of living. Aside from these worries, economic issues like loss of income, increased debt and acquiring loans can be considered. In addition, there is the environmental issue of sustainability of their practice, natural resources degradation and the loss of biodiversity. Social concerns about food security, the displacement of farmers and the disruption of rural communities also emphasize the multi-faceted nature of this problem. But despite their readiness to adapt, farmers face quite a few difficulties. Financial constraints, limited access to new technologies and credit and knowledge gaps on successful adaptation strategies are very critical challenges. Besides, the institutional problems like the inefficient policies, the lack of infrastructure and the inadequate market support for adaptation are also the factors that hinder the progress. The adaptation strategies applied by farmers can be grouped into agronomic methods (crop diversification, soil conservation), technological options (climate resilient crop varieties, precision agriculture) and institutional mechanisms (access to climate information services, government assistance programs) Although these approaches provide economic, environmental, sustainable and social benefits; problems like financial constraints, lack of information, institutional and socio-cultural barriers still keep them from attaining global popularity. The enhancement of the farmers’ capacity for adaptation is a dynamic process. Educational and extension programs will provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to improve their practices. Financial incentives and support schemes are tools to reduce financial impediments and encourage the use of new technology. Community partnerships and networks can be enhanced to support the sharing of information and peer learning. Finally, integrating traditional knowledge with modern ways is utilizing the knowledge of our predecessor’s side-by-side with the scientific and technological advancements of today. This type of collaborative approach is important to sustain agricultural systems and global food security in a changing climate.