Understanding smallholder farmers' capacity to respond to climate change in a coastal community in Central Vietnam

Abstract

Climate change as expressed by erratic rainfall, increased flooding, extended droughts, frequency tropical cyclones or saline water intrusion, poses severe threats to smallholder farmers in Vietnam. Adaptation of the agricultural sector is vital to increase the resilience of smallholder farmers' livelihoods in times of climate change. To complement efforts already implemented by farmers to reduce social vulnerability it is important to understand how farmers perceive their current and future capacity to adapt to climate change. This paper aims to explore smallholder farmers' capacity to respond to climate change in current and future agricultural production. We carried out open, in-depth interviews (n = 13), focus group discussions, and structured interviews (n = 114) in the Thua Thien Hue province. Our findings show that farmers nowadays experience more extreme climate variability. Farmers report increasing stresses due to temperature increase and droughts. The autonomous adaptation strategies adopted by farmers include; adjusting the season calendar, using tolerant varieties and breeds, applying integrated crop production models, and income diversification. The motives for adopting particular planned adaptation options differ between farmers in crop production and livestock production. Four factors were found to be significant (p < .05) in influencing the spread of adaptation measures (AMs) farmers adopted: farm income, the number of available information sources, number of workers on the farm, and farmable land available during the summer season. Farmers report several barriers to implement adaptation strategies including; market price fluctuations, lack of skilled labour, lack of climate change information, and lack of capacity to learn and apply techniques in their daily practice. While both crop and livestock farmers participated in one or several training courses on climate change in the past years, livestock farmers were still uncertain about their future capacity and possible AMs.

Understanding Indigenous Farming Systems in Response to Climate Change: An Investigation into Soil Erosion in the Mountainous Regions of Central Vietnam

“…Many farmers indicate strong concerns related to their ability to learn from other farmers, adhering to a kind of communal knowledge, as it were. So AMs are applied in relation to their familiarity with local knowledge and group experience of the geographical features of their environment [100]. A strong social network is a prominent feature of the "Co Tu" people, and it helps them in their cultural survival.…”

“…The provision of tailor-made courses and training, as well as the mediated communication between peers, friends, neighbors, cooperatives, etc., will increase social learning and will strengthen the people's resilience and capacity to adapt [100]. It is also important to consider that agricultural adaptation does not only depend on making changes in agronomic practices and attitudes, but also on supportive functions provided by other farm enterprises and institutions both at micro and macro levels [101].…”

“…Considered within the purpose and function of these extension officers, is the need to put a strong emphasis on fostering good relationships with these indigenous peoples, which will result in increased trust among all parties. Further efforts to integrate local adaptation strategies within local and district government policy will increase the adaptive capacity of the local people, while also contributing to the wider sustainable development goals of the region [100]. According to Pham et al [99] to facilitate scientific applications in farming activities that include the implementation of innovative farming methods, extension officers are considered to be the connecting link between the scientific community and farmers.…”

“…However, a word of caution is needed here, that it is necessary for these relationships to be reciprocal between all the various parties involved. It requires a balance in listening, and a respect of different forms of knowledge [100,103]. Different cultural groups will act differently to the severe impacts of modern changes in climate, even within the same geographical region [104].…”

Climate Change Adaptation related Hindrances among Rice Farmers in Nepal: Farm Level Analysis

“…Nhemachena and Hassain (2007) found that lack of credit facilities, information on adaptation options and insufficient input are the major barrier to adapting any climate change adaptation options. Phuong, Biesbroek, Sen & Wals (2017)has mentioned several barriers to implement adaptation strategies including market price fluctuations, lack of skilled labor, lack of climate change information and lack of capacity to learn and apply techniques in their daily practice. Further, poor irrigation system is important barrier to secure agricultural production; and lack of institutional capacity to facilitate agriculture adaptation to household level created an important barrier to further adaptation.…”