Characteristics and farmer's response to climate variability to support sustainable agriculture: Case study in Tasikmalaya, West Java

Abstract

Rice farming is strongly influenced by climate conditions. The availability of water from rainfall is a major consideration for farmers when determining the start of planting, while the beginning rainfall will change due to extreme climate events. The impact of climate variability as floods, droughts and attacks from pests and diseases brings losses for farmers in their food farming. The purpose of this paper is to identify the characteristics and responses of farmers to climate variability for the sustainability of food farming. Farming system in Singaparna sub-district is mostly carried out by farmers who are over 60 years old with primary school education and land ownership < 0.5 ha. Climate variability has an impact in a shift in the beginning of the rainy and dry season. Climate variability has an impact in the form of a shift in the beginning of the rainy season and the beginning of the dry season. The area of land affected by seasonal shifts is a significant factor affecting production. Farmers' characteristics and responses can be used as a basis for increasing the adaptive capacity of farmers to minimize risks to the impacts of variability and climate change.