Small rice farmers’ dynamics towards climate change

Rice production sustainability depends on two vital factors, namely nature phenomena (climate change) and demand shift (structural change). The research aims to identify impacts of climate change to rice production and farmers’ adaptation technology; to analyze factors affecting technology use and marketing means; and to analyze impact of climate change on farmers’ wealth. The research combines two research approaches . First stage, regional level research uses inductive approach (secondary data, interview, PRA) to generate hypotheses regarding change condition. Second stage, research in farmers level uses positive approach, testing hypotheses with probabilistic samples on specific sampling frame to develop farmer decision model in selecting marketing means and technological adaptation.
This research concludes several points. First, generally farmers were not accurately recognize climate change. However, farmers’ awareness towards climate change has increased in the last ten years. Secondly, some factors influence the use of adaptation technology by farmers. Hindering factors in using technology are lack of capital, followed by lack of information and knowledge towards climatic issues. Thirdly, relatively, farmer income has been increasing in the last ten years, due to the use of modern cultivation techniques.