Quantifying the determinants of climate change adaptation strategies and farmers' access to credit in South Africa

Do credit constraints affect non-farm entrepreneurship entry decisions of rural agricultural households in Benin?

This paper analyses the credit constraints' effect on non-farm entrepreneurship entry decisions in Benin. Using data from a sample of 512 farmers, we determine the factors that influence credit constraints and then assess the effect of credit constraints on non-farm entrepreneurship decisions based on an endogenous switching probit model and propensity score matching (PSM). The results of endogenous switching regression reveal that age and access to extension services are the main determinants of credit constraints while age, sex, household size, marital status, education level and farmer-based organisation (FBO) membership significantly increase farmers' decisions to engage in non-farm entrepreneurship. The PSM's results show that credit constraints have a negative effect on non-farm entrepreneurship entry decisions. The findings suggest that diversification through engagement in non-farm entrepreneurship requires the removal of credit constraints.

Assessing the impacts of climate change on high mountain land-based livelihoods: An empirical investigation in District Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Land-based livelihoods in Pakistan's high mountain regions are highly vulnerable to climate change due to the complex interactions between people and their natural environment. This study uses a mixed-method approach to explore how climate change affects land-based livelihoods in the high mountain Nagar District, Pakistan. Data were collected using a structured household survey of 430 randomly selected farmers, supplemented by focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The findings reveal that 87.7 % of farmers have observed negative impacts of climate change, such as increased crop diseases, reduced water for irrigation, and lower crop yields. Bivariate results indicate that factors related to farming practices, such as farming experience and cropping zones, significantly influence farmers' perceptions of impacts. The study emphasizes the urgent need for targeted government intervention and agricultural planning to boost the resilience of farmers in Nagar District. It calls for improved irrigation, crop disease management, and support tailored to high-mountain farming practices. The research highlights the importance of developing adaptation strategies to protect vulnerable farming communities from climate change impacts and supports the need for effective autonomous adaptation measures. This research contributes to a better understanding of climate change impacts on high-mountain agriculture and emphasizes the need to safeguard vulnerable farming communities.

Can farmers' climate change adaptation strategies ensure their food security? Evidence from Ethiopia

Climate change poses a significant threat to the sustainability of agricultural production among smallholder farm households in Ethiopia. To reduce the adverse effects of climate risks, farm households have sought to adopt different adaptation strategies. This study investigates factors influencing farm households' choice of climate adaptation strategies and associated effects on their food security in Ethiopia using data collected from 516 farm households from three regions. A multivariate probit and propensity score matching models were used to analyze data. Major adaptation strategies adopted by the farm households in the study area are planting drought-tolerant crop varieties (60%), changing the planting dates (53%), growing diversified crops (49%), and diversifying the sources of household income (45%). Results suggest that older farm household heads are more likely to use drought-tolerant crop varieties to reduce climate risks. Farm households with larger farmland size and those with more years of experience in farming are more likely to use drought-tolerant crop varieties and crop diversification strategies. Farm households with larger family size are more likely to use crop and income diversification strategies and change the planting dates against the backdrop of a high risk of climatic shocks. Membership in input supply cooperatives, frequency of contact with extension agents, and access to information on expected rainfall and temperature are positively associated with different adaptation practices adopted by farm households. Farm households who have adopted climate adaptation strategies have higher food security status (by 2.3-2.8%) compared to those who have not. Thus, the farm households' climate adaptation practices have positive food security effects in Ethiopia.

Do market pressure and social network affect farmers' adoption of low-carbon fertilization practices? Evidence from China

Excessive applications of agricultural chemical fertilizers contribute to environmental pollution and climate change. Although chemical fertilizers ensure high grain yields, it is crucial to regulate fertilization practices and avoid excessive application to achieve sustainable agricultural development. The overall goal of this study is to examine how market pressure and social network affect farmers' adoption of low-carbon fertilization practice. Data analyses were based on 1255 observations collected from a field survey in Anhui Province of China in 2021. The results showed that 32.1% of farmers had adopted low-carbon fertilization practices. The findings showed that market pressure, including consumption pressure and sales pressure, had positive impacts on the farmers' adoption of low-carbon fertilization practices. Findings also revealed that consumption pressure has a more significant influence on farmers' adoption of low-carbon fertilization practices than sales pressure. Social network has a significant positive influence on the farmers' adoption of low-carbon fertilization practices. Further analysis revealed that organizational network has a more significant influence on farmers' adoption of low-carbon fertilization practices than production networks. Therefore, the government should utilize market pressure and strengthen farmers' social network to improve the adoption rate of low-carbon fertilization practices. The results and policy implications of this study are significant for sustainable agricultural development under climate change in China and other countries.

Evaluating adoption of climate smart agricultural practices among farmers in the Fujian Province, China

This study examined the adaptation level of climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices among the farmers and the factors influencing the adoption of CSA practices in the Fujian Province, China. In this study, questionnaire survey data was analyzed, and 600 respondents were randomly selected as sample through randomly sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, adoption level index (ALI), and binary logit model were used for data analyses. These results indicated a moderate adoption level of CSA practices in the Fujian Province. Use of improved varieties, conservation tillage, fallow cropping, new technology, and intercropping were prevalent CSA practices among the farmers in the study area. In addition, farmers were not very interested in using herbicides on their farmlands, and only 20% of the respondents used herbicides in the Fujian Province. Except for Nindge village in the Fujian Province, all other studied villages have adapted to using organic fertilizer (around 50% of total respondents). However, more than 60% of respondents have claimed they still use chemical weed/insect/disease control in their farmlands. Age and working experience of farmers were the most influencing factors affecting the increase in the adoption of CSA practices among the farmers, and to the results of the binary logit model, education was not significant. Landholding, loan access, and access to agricultural extensions and organizations considerably impacted the adoption level of CSA practices among the farmers in the Fujian Province. Finally, this study will be helpful to decision-makers to make appropriate decisions to minimize the impact of climate change on agriculture and improve the standard of human life and food security.

Agro-pastoralists' perception of climate change and adaptation in the Qilian Mountains of northwest China

Global climate change affects all aspects of human society, especially agricultural and animal husbandry production. Northwest China has been detrimentally affected by the climatic variations due to its high exposure to extreme climatic events. A number of studies have reported agro-pastoralists’ perceptions and adaptation responses to climate change, but the current knowledge of agro-pastoralists’ perceptions of climate change in China are insufficient. To fill this research gap, this study aims to investigate the perception level of agro-pastoralists in Northwest China on climate change and related factors. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire based on household surveys of 554 study participants in four counties in Gansu Province, China. Raw data were collected using stratified random sampling. A probit model was used to analyze the respondents' understanding of climate change and its related socio-economic and demographic variables. Our results show that the majority of respondents were aware (70%) of the changes in temperature and precipitation. Socioeconomic and demographic variables such as gender, farming experience, education level, cultivated land size, agricultural income, livestock, village cadre experience, access to weather information of agro-pastoralists are pertinently related to agro-pastoralists’ awareness of climate change. Farming experience, education level, household size, grassland size, agricultural income, association membership, village cadre experience has a high impact on agro-pastoralists' adaptation to climate change. The results of this study will help guide government agencies and decision makers, and help arid and semi-arid areas to build sustainable adaptation measures under the framework of climate change. The study recommends institutions targeting households’ livelihood improvement and making decisions concerning climate change adaptation need to focus on mass media and information technology, improving locally adapted extension services, improved irrigation, expand loan channels.