Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability and Factors Influencing Adaptation: Evidence from Anhui and Jiangsu, China

  • Published:
Environmental Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Impacts of climate variability and climate change are on the rise in China posing great threat to agriculture and rural livelihoods. Consequently, China is undertaking research to find solutions of confronting climate change and variability. However, most studies of climate change and variability in China largely fail to address farmers’ perceptions of climate variability and adaptation. Yet, without an understanding of farmers’ perceptions, strategies are unlikely to be effective. We conducted questionnaire surveys of farmers in two farming regions, Yifeng, Jiangsu and Qinxi, Anhui achieving 280 and 293 responses, respectively. Additionally, we used climatological data to corroborate the farmers’ perceptions of climate variability. We found that farmers’ were aware of climate variability such that were consistent with climate records. However, perceived impacts of climate variability differed between the two regions and were influenced by farmers’ characteristics. In addition, the vast majorities of farmers were yet to make adjustments in their farming practices as a result of numerous challenges. These challenges included socioeconomic and socio-cultural barriers. Results of logit modeling showed that farmers are more likely to adapt to climate variability if contact with extension services, frequency of seeking information, household heads’ education, and climate variability perceptions are improved. These results suggest the need for policy makers to understand farmers’ perceptions of climate variability and change in order to formulate policies that foster adaptation, and ultimately protect China’s agricultural assets.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adesina AA, Mbila D, Nkamleu GB, Endamana D (2000) Econometric analysis of the determinants of adoption of alley farming by farmers in the forest zone of southwest Cameroon. Agric Ecosyst Environ 80:255–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adger W, Huq S, Brown K, Conway D, Hulme M (2003) Adaptation to climate change in the developing world. Prog Dev Stud 3:179–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adger WN, Dessai S, Goulden M, Hulme M, Lorenzoni I, Nelson DR, Naess LO, Wolf J, Wreford A (2008) Are there social limits to adaptation to climate change? Clim Change 93:335–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arbuckle JG Jr, Prokopy LS, Haigh T, Hobbs J, Knoot T, Knutson C, Widhalm M (2013a) Climate change beliefs, concerns, and attitudes toward adaptation and mitigation among farmers in the Midwestern United States. Clim Change 117(4):943–950

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arbuckle JG Jr, Morton LW, Hobbs J (2013b) Farmer beliefs and concerns about climate change and attitudes toward adaptation and mitigation: evidence from Iowa. Clim Change 118(3–4):551–563

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blennow K, Persson J (2009) Climate change: motivation for taking measure to adapt. Glob Environ Change 19:100–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bordens KS, Abbott BB (2008) Research design and methods: a process approach, 7th edn. New York, McGraw-Hill Companies

    Google Scholar 

  • Borick CP, Rabe BG (2010) A reason to believe: examining the factors that determine individual views on global warming. Soc Sci Q 91:777–800

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brody SD, Zahran S, Vedlitz A, Grover H (2008) Examining the relationship between physical vulnerability and public perceptions of global climate change in the United States. Environ Behav 40:72–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bryan E, Deressa TT, Gbetibouo GA, Ringler C (2009) Adaptation to climate change in Ethiopia and South Africa: options and constraints. Environ Sci Policy 12:413–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bryan E, Ringler C, Okoba B, Roncoli C, Silvestri S, Herrero M (2013) Adapting agriculture to climate change in Kenya: household strategies and determinants. J Environ Manage 114:26–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bryant RC, Smit B, Brklacich M, Johnston RT, Smithers J, Chiotti Q, Singh B (2000) Adaptation in Canadian agriculture to climatic variability and change. Clim Change 45:181–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burton M, Rigby D, Young T (1999) Analysis of the determinants of adoption of organic horticultural techniques in the Philippines. J Agric Econ 50:47–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burton M, Rigby D, Young T (2003) Modelling the adoption of organic horticultural technology in the UK using duration analysis. Aust J Agric Resour Econ 47:29–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chambers EA, Cox DR (1967) Discrimination between alternative binary response models. Biometrika 54:573

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Wu Z, Okamoto K, Han X, Ma G, Chien H, Zhao J (2013) The impacts of climate change on crops in China: a Ricardian analysis. Glob Planet Change 104:61–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dang H, Li E, Bruwer J, Nuberg I (2013) Farmers’ perceptions of climate variability and barriers to adaptation: lessons learned from an exploratory study in Vietnam. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change 19:531

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson DJ, Freudenburg WR (1996) Gender and environmental risk concerns a review and analysis of available research. Environment and behavior 28:302–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deressa TT, Hassan RM, Ringler C, Alemu T, Yesuf M (2009) Determinants of farmers’ choice of adaptation methods to climate change in the Nile Basin of Ethiopia. Glob Environ Change 19:248–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desanker PV, Justice CO (2001) Africa and global climate change: critical issues and suggestions for further research and integrated assessment modeling. Clim Res 17:93–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diggs DM (1991) Drought experience and perception of climatic change among Great Plains farmers. Gt Plains Res 1:1

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolnicar S, Hurlimann A, Grün B (2012) Water conservation behavior in Australia. J Environ Manage 105:44–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doss RC, Morris ML (2001) How does gender affect the adoption of agricultural innovations?: the case of improved maize technology in Ghana. Agric Econ 25:27–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erda L, Wei X, Hui J, Yinlong X, Yue L, Liping B, Liyong X (2005) Climate change impacts on crop yield and quality with CO2 fertilization in China. Philos Trans R Soc B 360:2149–2154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2008) The state of food insecurity in the world. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (2013) Statistical yearbook 2012 (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2012); www.go.nature.com/nfmwxx. Accessed 2013

  • Frolking S, Qiu J, Boles S, Xiao X, Liu J, Zhuang Y, Qin X (2002) Combining remote sensing and ground census data to develop new maps of the distribution of rice agriculture in China. Global Biogeochem Cycles 16:1091

    Google Scholar 

  • Gram-Hanssen K (2009) Standby consumption in households analyzed with a practice theory approach. J Ind Ecol 14:150–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greene WH (1997) Econometric analysis, 3rd edn. Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregory GD, Leo MD (2003) Repeated behavior and environmental psychology: the role of personal involvement and habit formation in explaining water consumption. J Appl Soc Psychol 33:1261–1296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He X-F, Cao H, Li F-M (2007) Econometric analysis of the determinants of adoption of rainwater harvesting and supplementary irrigation technology (RHSIT) in the semiarid Loess Plateau of China. Agric Water Manag 89:243–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heffer P (2009) Assessment of fertilizer use by crop at the global level. International Fertilizer Industry Association, Paris, www.fertilizer.org/ifa/Home-Page/LIBRARY/Publication-database.html/Assessment-of-Fertilizer-Use-by-Crop-at-the-Global-Level-2006-07-2007-08.html2

  • Hemmati M, Röhr U (2009) Engendering the climate-change negotiations: experiences, challenges, and steps forward. Gend Dev 17:19–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IFA (2011) 79th IFA annual conference Montreal, Canada

  • IPCC (2001) Africa. In: McCarthy JJ, Canziani O, Leary NA, Dokken DJ, White KS (eds.) Climate change 2001: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Chapter 10

  • IPCC (2007a) Climate change 2007: Synthesis report. Contributions of working groups I, II, and III to the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on climate Change. IPCC, Geneva

  • IPCC (2007b) Climate change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of working group II to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ, Hansson CE (eds.). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), CambridgeUniversity Press, New York

  • Jones L, Boyd E (2011) Exploring social barriers to adaptation: insights from Western Nepal. Glob Environ Change 21:1262–1274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kan H, Chen R, Tong S (2012) Ambient air pollution, climate change, and population health in China. Environ Int 42:10–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keller EF (1985) Reflections on gender and science. Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjellstrom T, Weaver HJ (2009) Climate change and health: impacts, vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation. New South Wales public health bulletin. 20:5–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knowler D, Bradshaw B (2007) Farmers’ adoption of conservation agriculture: a review and synthesis of recent research. Food Policy 32:25–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kollmuss A, Agyeman J (2002) Mind the gap: why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behavior? Environ Educ Res 8:239–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Läpple D (2010) Adoption and abandonment of organic farming: an empirical analysis of the Irish drystock sector. J Agric Econ 61:697–714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Läpple D, Rensburg TV (2011) Adoption of organic farming: are there differences between early and late adoption? Ecol Econ 70:1406–1414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee HF, Zhang DD (2008) Perceiving the environment from the lay perspective in desertified areas, northern China. Environ Manage 41:168–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H, Huang Q (2013) Adoption and continued use of contour cultivation in the highlands of southwest China. Ecol Econ 91:28–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu X, Niu D, Bao C, Suk SSK (2013) Awareness and acceptability of companies on market-based instruments for energy saving: a survey study in Taicang, China. J Clean Prod 39:231–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maddison D (2007) The perception of and adaptation to climate change in Africa. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, 4308. The World Bank, Washington, DC

  • Mariano MJ, Villano R, Fleming E (2012) Factors influencing farmers’ adoption of modern rice technologies and good management practices in the Philippines. Agric Syst 110:41–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall MN (1996) Sampling for qualitative research. Fam Pract 13:522–525

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall NA (2010) Understanding social resilience to climate variability in primary enterprises and industries. Glob Environ Change 20:36–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall NA, Park S, Howden SM, Dowd AB, Jakku ES (2013) Climate change awareness is associated with enhanced adaptive capacity. Agric Syst 117:30–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meinke H, Howden SM, Struik PC, Nelson R, Rodriguez D, Chapman SC (2009) Adaptation science for agriculture and natural resource management—urgency and theoretical basis. Curr Opin Environ Sustain 1:69–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mertz O, Mbow C, Reenberg A, Diouf A (2009) Farmers’ perceptions of climate change and agricultural adaptation strategies in rural sahel. Environ Manag 43:804–816

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nhemachena C, Hassan R (2007) Micro-level analysis of farmers’ adaptation to climate change in Southern Africa. IFPRI Discussion Paper No. 00714. International Food Policy

  • Niles MT, Lubell M, Haden VR (2013) Perceptions and responses to climate policy risks among California farmers. Glob Environ Change 23(6):1752–1760

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor RE, Bord RJ, Fisher A (1999) Risk perceptions, general environmental beliefs, and willingness to address climate change. Risk Anal 19:461–471

    Google Scholar 

  • Ogalleh S, Vogl C, Eitzinger J, Hauser M (2012) Local perceptions and responses to climate change and variability: the case of Laikipia district, Kenya. Sustainability 4:3302–3325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pandey S, Byerlee D, Dawe D, Dobermann A, Mohanty S, Rozelle S, Bill Hardy B (eds) 2010. Rice in the global economy: strategic research and policy issues for food security. International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños

  • Piao S, Ciais P, Huang Y, Shen Z, Peng S, Li J, Zhou L, Liu H, Ma Y, Ding Y, Friedlingstein P, Liu C, Tan K, Yu Y, Zhang T, Fang J (2010) The impacts of climate change on water resources and agriculture in China. Nature 467:43–51

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qiu J (2010) China drought highlights future climate threats. Nature 465:142–143

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rahman S (2003) Environmental impacts of modern agricultural technology diffusion in Bangladesh: an analysis of farmers’ perceptions and their determinants. J Environ Manag 68:183–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ronald P (2011) Plant genetics, sustainable agriculture and global food security. Genetics 188:11–20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roy SJ, Tucker EJ, Tester M (2011) Genetic analysis of abiotic stress tolerance in crops. Curr Opin Plant Biol 14:232–239

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shi H, Peng SZ, Liu Y, Zhong P (2008) Barriers to the implementation of cleaner production in Chinese SMEs: government, industry and expert stakeholders’ perspectives. J Clean Prod 16:842–852

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sidibé A (2005) Farm-level adoption of soil and water conservation techniques in northern Burkina Faso. Agric Water Manag 71:211–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simon D (2006) Your questions answered? Conducting questionnaire surveys. In: Desai V, Potter RB (eds) Doing development research. Sage Publication Ltd., London

    Google Scholar 

  • Smit B, Wandel J (2006) Adaptation, adaptive capacity and vulnerability. Glob Environ Change 16:282–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smithers J, Smit B (1997) Human adaptation to climatic variability and change. Glob Environ Change 7:129–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spence A, Poortinga W, Butler C, Pidgeon NF (2011) Perceptions of climate change and willingness to save energy related to flood experience. Nat Clim Change 1:46–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stern PC, Dietz T, Abel T, Guagnano GA, Kalof L (1999) A value-belief-norm theory of support for social movements: the case of environmentalism. Hum Ecol Rev 6:81–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Subedi M, Hocking TJ, Fullen MA, McCrea AR, Milne E, Wu B-Z, Mitchell DJ (2009) An awareness-adoption matrix for strategic decision making in agricultural development projects: a case study in Yunnan province, China. Agric Sci China 8:1112–1119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sudarmadi S, Suzuki S, Kawada T, Netti H, Soemantri S, Tugaswati A (2001) A survey of perception, knowledge, awareness, and attitude in regard to environmental problems in a sample of two different social groups in Jakarta, Indonesia. Environ Dev Sustain 3:169–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sundblad E-L, Biel A, Gärling T (2007) Cognitive and affective risk judgements related to climate change. J Environ Psychol 27:97–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tester M, Langridge P (2010) Breeding technologies to increase crop production in a changing world. Science 327:818–822

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tilman D, Balzer C, Hill J, Befort BL (2011) Global food demand and the sustainable intensification of agriculture. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108:20260–20264

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (2010) The African ministerial conference on the environment (AMCEN). In: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UNEP

  • Vedwan N, Robert ER (2001) Climate change in the Western Himalayas of India: a study of local perception and response. Clim Res 19:109–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Xu Z, Huang J, Rozelle S (2006) Incentives to managers or participation of farmers in China’s irrigation systems: which matters most for water savings, farmer income, and poverty? Agric Econ 34:315–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Huang J, Zhang L, Rozelle S, Farnsworth HF (2010) Why is China’s blue revolution so “Blue”? The determinants of conservation tillage in China. J Soil Water Conserv 65:113–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2009) Development and climate change. World Bank

  • Worthington S, Thompson FM, Stewart DB (2011) Credit cards in a Chinese cultural context—the young, affluent Chinese as early adopters. J Retail Consum Serv 18:534–541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woudenberg DL, Wilhite DA, Hayes M (2008) Perception of drought hazard and its sociological impacts in south-central Nebraska. Gt Plains Res 18:93–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu Q (2001) Evolution of soil fertility in relation to soil quality in paddy fields Tai Lake area. Res Environ Yangtze Basin 10:323–328 (in Chinese)

  • Ziervogel G, Bithell M, Washington R, Downing T (2005) Agent-based social simulation: a method for assessing the impact of seasonal climate forecast applications among smallholder farmers. Agric Syst 83:1–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zong YQ, Chen XQ (2000) The 1998 flood on the Yangtze, China. Nat Hazard 22:165–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This paper is part of PhD thesis of the first author. It was financed by Ministry of Agriculture, China granted in 2012, through the College of Environment and Resources, Nanjing Agricultural University. The authors are grateful to the farmers and households in Qinxi and Yifeng, for their cooperation and assistance offered during the social survey interviews and discussions. Special thanks go to Dr Kun Chen for providing climate data. The authors are sincerely grateful to Nadine Marshall and two other anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Climate Change and Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing , 210095, China

    Grace Wanjiru Kibue, Xiaoyu Liu, Jufeng Zheng, Xuhui zhang, Genxing Pan, Lianqing Li & Xiaojun Han

  2. Faculty of Environment and Resources Development, Egerton University, 536, Nakuru, Kenya

    Grace Wanjiru Kibue

Authors
  1. Grace Wanjiru Kibue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaoyu Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jufeng Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xuhui zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Genxing Pan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Lianqing Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xiaojun Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Grace Wanjiru Kibue.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kibue, G.W., Liu, X., Zheng, J. et al. Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Variability and Factors Influencing Adaptation: Evidence from Anhui and Jiangsu, China. Environmental Management 57, 976–986 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-016-0661-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-016-0661-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation