Changes in climatic factors have different impacts on different social groups. But the farmers are the most vulnerable group because of their direct and indirect dependency on climatic factors. To understand the nature of the... more
Changes in climatic factors have different impacts on different social groups. But the farmers are the most vulnerable group because of their direct and indirect dependency on climatic factors. To understand the nature of the socioeconomic impacts of climatic changes on the farmers in Malaysia, this study has used primary data collected through questionnaire survey on 198 paddy producing farmers in the Integrated Agricultural Development Area at North-West Selangor, Malaysia, in 2009. It has used descriptive statistics, ordinal scale, and percentile as tools of analysis. The study finds that climatic changes have adverse impacts on agricultural productivity, profitability, income equality, employment, farmer’s health, and government subsidy policy. 68% farmers perceive that paddy cultivation is no longer profitable due to climatic changes induced low productivity. 57% farmers have expressed their desire to change from full-time to part-time engagement in agriculture and look for part-time job in off-farm activities. The Kuznets ratio and Gini coefficient of income distribution of the paddy farmers in the study area are found to be 2.88 and 0.443 respectively. These indicate that there is highly unequal distribution of income. Climatic changes are contributing to the widening of this income gap, because poor farmers are affected more by the adverse effects of climatic changes. The current government subsidy policy is not found appropriate and adequate to support and encourage the farmers to adequately adapt to the climatic changes and to reduce the inequality among the farming community. Key words: Climatic Change; Income Equality; Poverty; Health Hazard; Adaptation; Agriculture; Paddy; Malaysia
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The climatic factors in Malaysia have been changing very rapidly affecting agricultural productivity and farmers’ sustainable livelihood. Agriculture which depends heavily on climate is becoming increasingly vulnerable to risk and... more
The climatic factors in Malaysia have been changing very rapidly affecting agricultural productivity and farmers’ sustainable livelihood. Agriculture which depends heavily on climate is becoming increasingly vulnerable to risk and uncertainty. In order to face and manage the situation farmers are trying in various ways to adapt to these climatic vulnerabilities. This study analyses paddy farmers’ perception of climatic variations and vulnerabilities and focuses on the techniques they use to adapt to the situation. It uses primary data collected through a questionnaire survey on the paddy farmers in the Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA), North-West Selangor in Malaysia. Through a descriptive analysis of the data, the study finds that most farmers do not have a clear perception of the climatic changes and vulnerabilities. Farmers’ adaptation practices to the climatic vulnerability are mostly based on their common sense responses. It suggests that farmers need necessary t...
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Research Interests: Pilot study and Challenge
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Calculated under the framework of economic-profit counting, the productivity of microcredit in Bangladesh is found very low. In this survey about 48% of the borrowers had to compromise their normal wages for self-employed labor to be able... more
Calculated under the framework of economic-profit counting, the productivity of microcredit in Bangladesh is found very low. In this survey about 48% of the borrowers had to compromise their normal wages for self-employed labor to be able to pay the high interest for the credit. Similarly its social productivity is also found marginal. However, about 90% of the borrowers felt comfortable with microcredit even at so high interest rate seemingly to avoid losing or compromising their social and political empowerment at the hands of the ...