Farmers’ Perceptions

Empowering farmers to increase productivity by educating them on conservation agriculture (CA) could contribute to reducing vulnerability, alleviating food insecurity, and fighting poverty while being ecologically sustainable in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This study assesses the effect of a CA-promotion agriculture program. Findings suggest that location of the farm, training, having accessed credit, belonging to a farmers' group, and being a vulnerable female all drove adoption to varying degrees and directions. Results also suggest that policy makers and CA practitioners should emphasize the ability that CA has to increase income and food security, which could widen CA adoption.

This study of the nature and extent of livelihood vulnerability of farm households in the Bundelkhand
region of Uttar Pradesh, India, involved the computation of livelihood vulnerability indices and indices of
exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity for different social communities. The empirical findings reveal
that farmers belonging to Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities were relatively highly exposed and sensitive
to climate change and least able to adapt. In this light, several policy recommendations are proposed to
improve the livelihood security of vulnerable groups.

Adaptation across systems 1 in agriculture is essential for sustainability under ongoing climate change. Farmers and agricultural employers implement changes in their work (e.g., mechanization, changing crops, managing workspaces) in ways that may directly impact worker health. In this study, semistructured interviews were conducted with farmers the impacts of health and safety for agricultural workers in the context of climate change.

Climate change and global warming are serious challenges in the 21st century with significant negative
impacts on the agriculture. Farmers are important players if agriculture is to be adjusted to the changing
climate conditions. Their perceptions about climate change directly affect their behavior toward this
problem. Therefore, it is important to recognize and classify their perceptions to improve the rural development
programs. We used the Q methodology to classify the farmers' perceptions toward climate
change in Hamidiyeh County in Khuzestan Province, Iran. Q research initiates by recognizing a concourse,
often shaped by dialogs with elite people. Then, a Q statement is nominated, which represents an individual's
belief. In this study, by reviewing the literature and interviewing with 6 agricultural experts and
farmers, 160 statements were identified. Then, by sorting them, we arrived at 42 final statements or
Q-sample. This Q-sample was sorted by 46 farmers, selected through purposive sampling. To analyze the
data, we used PQMethod 2014. The factor analysis of Q sorts revealed two discourses; support seekers
and adaptable among the 27 vegetable growers; and two other discourses among 19 wheat farmers;
fatalism passive-adherents and disappointment. Various individuals think differently about the causes,
impacts, self-efficacy, responsibility, adaptation, and intention to mitigation of greenhouse gasses and
climate change. Therefore, based on the perceptions, knowledge, and behavior of the individuals, policy
makers can provide various recommendations to deal with climate change.