Climate change is a worldwide environmental threat that has an impact on all economic sectors, especially on agriculture. In Vietnam, Lai Chau province is the most vulnerable province to climate change because of its high exposure to extreme weather events as well as its limited capacity to adaptation. The objectives of this study are to explore farmers’ awareness of climate change, adaptation measures, and identify the key factors affecting the farmers’ adaptation decision in Lai Chau province, Vietnam. The study used survey data of 200 farmers and secondary data to explore the research objectives by using the risk matrix and a multivariate probit model. The results showed that most farmers believed the presence of climate change and the major causes are due to anthropogenic activities. In the context of climate change, 78.5% of the farmers applied adaptive measures on their farms. The farmers used seven adaptation methods and they were likely to combine simultaneously several strategies to manage climate risks. Farming experience, farm size, farmer association’s membership, credit access, extension service, distance to market, and risk perception exposed significant impacts on the farmers’ decision to adaptation practices. The findings of the study suggest the government should encourage farmers to expand production and promote the implementation of the land accumulation program while providing information regarding climate change scenarios, seasonal variability, and information about the impacts of climate change.
Keywords: Adaptation Strategy, Awareness of Climate Change, Lai Chau Province, Multivariate Probit Model
Climate change is a worldwide environmental threat that has an impact on all economic sectors, especially on agriculture. In Vietnam, Lai Chau province is the most vulnerable province to climate change because of its high exposure to extreme weather events as well as its limited capacity to adaptation. The objectives of this study are to explore farmers’ awareness of climate change, adaptation measures, and identify the key factors affecting the farmers’ adaptation decision in Lai Chau province, Vietnam. The study used survey data of 200 farmers and secondary data to explore the research objectives by using the risk matrix and a multivariate probit model. The results showed that most farmers believed the presence of climate change and the major causes are due to anthropogenic activities. In the context of climate change, 78.5% of the farmers applied adaptive measures on their farms. The farmers used seven adaptation methods and they were likely to combine simultaneously several strategies to manage climate risks. Farming experience, farm size, farmer association’s membership, credit access, extension service, distance to market, and risk perception exposed significant impacts on the farmers’ decision to adaptation practices. The findings of the study suggest the government should encourage farmers to expand production and promote the implementation of the land accumulation program while providing information regarding climate change scenarios, seasonal variability, and information about the impacts of climate change.
Keywords: Adaptation Strategy, Awareness of Climate Change, Lai Chau Province, Multivariate Probit Model