Farmers’ Perceptions about Adaptation Practices to Climate Change and Barriers to Adaptation

Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to analyse farmers’ perception about climate change, adaptation practices and barriers. The results of this study shows that the majority of farmers (76%) perceived an increase in temperature over the past 10-15 years. It also shows that with a PCI value of 797, the high cost of farm inputs was ranked the most critical impediment to using of adaptation options. Unpredictable weather, lack of access to water resources, lack of access to timely weather information, lack of access to credit facilities were ranked the second, third, fourth, fifth and six most pressing problems, respectively. The results also showed that lack of finances and government support for information available to climate change are the biggest impediments. More rice can be produced by farmers with higher adaptive capacity. In order to assist them attain higher rice output, rice growers should be allowed by improving extension services, public aid, such as grants, training for better adaptation.