Responses to climate change: Perceptions and adaptation among small-scale farmers in Indonesia

Abstract

Climate change poses challenges to the global agricultural systems. The threat is more significant for small-scale farmers who constitute 40% of global and 29% of Indonesian farmers, playing a pivotal role in rural economies. Understanding how small-scale farmers adapt to climate change is crucial for developing targeted policy interventions because there is no “one size fits all” policy. This paper explores perceptions and driving forces of adaptation responses to climate change among small-scale farmers in Indonesia, while putting emphasis on the role of perceptions and socioeconomic factors at a local level. Employing both qualitative and quantitative research methods, the study analyzed perceptions and adaptation strategies among farmers in six districts representing Indonesia's varied climate patterns: Mentawai, West Tanjung Jabung, West Kotawaringin, Buton, Sikka, and Fakfak. The qualitative method involved in-depth interviews with 125 farmers to understand how climate variability, socioeconomic conditions, knowledge levels, technological resources, and institutional capabilities influence adaptation strategies such as crop diversification, land maintenance, and livelihood diversification. The quantitative method employed logistic regression to identify the driving factors behind these adaptation decisions. The findings reveal significant variations in climate change perceptions across different climatic regions, highlighting the considerable influence of gender, access to government support, and access to information on climate change adaptation strategies. Gender positively influences land management practices, where males are more likely to perform land maintenance activities compared to females. Government support and information access positively affect crop diversification, land management practices, and livelihood diversification. These insights suggest important policy implications for enhancing climate change adaptation strategies within communities which include region-specific climate adaptation plans, climate education programs, enhancing climate information accuracy and accessibility, gender-sensitive climate adaptation policies, and support for livelihood diversification.