Farmers’ adaptation to climate change and its impact on rice production kyaukse township, central dry zone, Myanmar

While farmers are first confronted with climate change, understanding the farm level adaptative capacity, building resilience among local farm communities is vital towards sustainable farm production. This study identified current practices of rice farmers’ agroecological based adaptation strategies, influencing factors on farmers’ choices of adaptation options, understanding the degree of adaptative capacity and the relation between adaptative capacity and rice productivity. A total of 197 farm households from two villages were randomly selected through community-based survey. Seven Key Informant Interviews, two focus Group Discussions with village leaders, old, experienced rice farmers, and agricultural officers were conducted. Descriptive analysis, multiple linear regression analysis and adaptative capacity index were used to analyze data. Five kinds of attributes: knowledge, usage, availability, accessibility, and consultation were used to measure the level adaptative capacity. Rice farmers’ most practiced strategies with high degree of adaptative capacity were crop diversification (98% of total farmers), using climate resistance varieties (92% of total farmers), and changing plantation methods (87% of total farmers). Multiple linear regression analysis explained that (1) personal capitals; (2) farmers’ education status and agricultural experience, and social capitals; (3) access to credit, irrigation services, cooperative membership, training attendance and accessing information were highly and positively influenced on farmers’ adaptation options. A farmer with high adaptative capacity obtained more rice output (4506.46 kg/ha) than farmer with low adaptative capacity (3392.56 kg/ha), however, the degree of adaptative capacity can be identified as “Moderate level (0.53)”. Recommendations are (1) concern government and private sectors should promote community education programs and farmers’ communication networks to enhance adaptation actions. (2) Enhancing irrigation systems and credit services to be more systematic and strategic to improve farmers’ adaptative capacity in the long term.