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Assessment of climate change awareness and agronomic practices in an agricultural region of Henan Province, China

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Abstract

Agricultural production is a complex interaction between human and natural environment, making agriculture both significantly responsible and vulnerable to climate change. China, whose socioeconomy is fundamentally dependent on agriculture, is already experiencing climate-change-related issues that threaten food security and sustainable development. Climate change mitigation and adaptation are of great concern to ensure food security for the growing population and improve the livelihoods of poor smallholder producers. A questionnaire survey was conducted in Henan Province, China to assess agronomic practices of smallholder farmers, adaptation strategies and how climate change awareness and perceptions influence the farmers’ choice of agronomic practices. The results showed that the vast majority of farmers owned <10 Chinese Mu (0.7 ha) and nearly all farmers’ relied on intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase yield at the detriment of environment. However, farmers who were aware of climate change had adopted agronomic practices that reduce impacts of climate change. Information about climate change, lack of incentives, lack of credit facilities and small farm sizes were major hindrance to adaptation and adoption of farming practices that can reduce impacts of climate change. This study recommends that research findings should be disseminated to farmers in timely and appropriate ways. The central government should formulate policies to include subsidies and incentives for farmers to motivate adoption of eco-friendly agronomic practices.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financed by Ministry of Agriculture, China granted in 2012. The authors are grateful to the farmers and households in Xieji Township, Henan, for their cooperation and assistance offered during the social survey interviews and discussions. The authors are also grateful to Ming Yan from department of Soil Science, Nanjing Agricultural University for questionnaire design and research assistance provided. The authors sincerely thank the anonymous reviewers, whose insights have improved this paper tremendously.

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  1. Institute of Resource, Ecosystem and Environment of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu, China

    Grace Wanjiru Kibue, Genxing Pan, Jufeng Zheng, Li Zhengdong & Li Mao

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

    Grace Wanjiru Kibue

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Kibue, G.W., Pan, G., Zheng, J. et al. Assessment of climate change awareness and agronomic practices in an agricultural region of Henan Province, China. Environ Dev Sustain 17, 379–391 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-014-9546-5

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