Adaptation of farming practices by the smallholder farmers in response to climate change

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the extent of adaptation of farming practices by smallholder farmers in response to climate change in coastal regions of Bangladesh. The data were collected from 80 randomly selected smallholder farmers with the objectives to identify the adaptation of farming practices, to determine the factors those influence adaptation of farming practices and to find out the constraints faced by the farmers in adapting farming practices. The findings of the study revealed that majority (75%) of the smallholder farmers made low to medium adaptation of farming practices in response to climate change. Correlation analysis indicated that among the selected socio-¬ economic characteristics, respondent’s education, annual family income, communication exposure, agricultural training and perception of climate change showed positive and significant relationship with their adaptation of farming practices. Step-wise multiple regression analysis explored that amongst six, four independent variables finally entered into the model and contribution of these factors (education, perception, communication exposure and training) accounted for 88% of the total variation in the extent of adaptation of farming practices. It was found that majority (76%) of the smallholder farmers had faced high to medium constraints in adapting farm practices in response to climate change.