Traditional Farmers’ Adaptation Strategies on Climate Change of Different Environmental Conditions in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Adaptive capacity has become one of the important issues in explaining societal aspects of climate change (Hinkel 2011). Therefore, understanding farmers’ adaptation strategy on climate change is seen as key to address agri-environmental challenges. The objectives of the study are (1) to understand the farmers’ perception on climate change, (2) to identify various adaptation strategies of the farmers in coping with climate change, (3) to find the most suitable adaptation strategy for farmers, and (4) to analyze the socioeconomic factors affecting the farmers’ decision in using the adaptation strategy. The results of the study show that very few farmers know about global warming and climate change, especially in unfavorable upland area. But the farmers understand some indications of the existence of climate change, such as increase of temperature, unstable rainfalls, and unpredictable rainy and dry seasons during the last 20 years. Most of the farmers agreed that the climate change has caused farm production decrease and sometimes crop failure. Water shortage and pest outbreaks are among consequences of the climate change experienced by the farmers. The study also shows that applying terracing system, cultivating land by contour lines, utilizing organic materials, applying multi-cropping pattern, crop rotation, and food storage are strategies mostly adopted by the farmers in order to cope with climate change. The result of analysis also shows that livestock ownership, drought experience, and water shortage are among factors that influence significantly their adaptation strategy decision. The study suggests the need to improve the knowledge of the farmers with respect to climate change and its impacts through extension services. It is recommended for the local government to increase the farmer’s ownership of livestock in coping with the climate change by introducing revolving fund scheme. The study also suggests to develop more weirs particularly in the upland area to solve the problem of drought and water shortage.