Factors affecting climate-smart agriculture development in Fars Province, Iran

In recent years, climate change has reduced the production and revenue of agricultural products. Despite farmers' increasing vulnerability and poverty due to climate change, climate-smart agriculture strategies (CSAs) have not been implemented adequately in developing areas. So, the present study evaluated the effective factors of adopting CSAs at three spatial, farm, and individual levels. In this study, data were collected using a questionnaire from ۴۴۳ farmers during ۲۰۱۸-۲۰۱۹ in four different climatic regions of Fars Province, Southwest Iran. Consequently, the CSAs utilized in the three groups of management of nutrient and water-smart strategies, conserving or enhancing soil fertility-smart strategies, and the combination of these two groups were analyzed by dividing the solutions through Poisson count regression and multinomial-logit estimations for these strategies expansion. The study of spatial characteristics revealed that the agricultural sector of Fars Province lacks a logical model for smart agriculture and has failed to adopt smart strategies to climatic conditions. According to farm and individual research, younger farmers with greater access to credit, increased participation in social groups, and better awareness and perception of climate change risk are more likely to adopt CSAs. In this regard, the variables of access to credit and trust in individuals have the most positive and negative effects on the adoption of climate- smart strategies, respectively. It is expected that with an increase of ۱ unit in the amount of these variables, the changes of the dependent variable will be ۱.۲۵ and -۱.۳۲, respectively. All the same, larger farms and higher farm incomes ensure that farmers in the province will utilize CSAs. Hence, it is recommended to focus on awareness and education of farmers regarding these strategies along with facilitating access to extension services and financial credits as well as using the potential of formal and informal associations to encourage farmers to participate in social activities to develop CSAs.

کلیدواژه ها:

Climate Change ، Climate-smart agriculture ، Multinomial logit model ، Poisson regression