Farmers’ Perception and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar

Table of Contents

1 CHAPTER-I: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Research objectives of the study

1.2 Structure of the thesis

2 CHAPTER-II: CONCEPT AND FRAMEWORKS OF THE STUDY

2.1 Actions of Climate change

2.2 The impacts of climate change on agriculture

2.3 Vulnerability, adaptation, and resilience to hazards and risks by climate change

2.4. Linkages between perception and adaptation of farmers to climate change

3 CHAPTER-III: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

3.1 The perception aspects of farmers to climate change

3.2 The adaptation of farmers to climate change

3.3 Overview of climate risks and climate change aspects in Myanmar and the Central Dry Zone

3.4 Overview of important social and economic characteristics of Central Dry Zone

4 CHAPTER-IV: MATERIALS AND METHODS

4.1 Selection of the study area

4.2 Selection of study group

4.3 Questionnaires

4.4 Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRA)

4.4.1 Village hazard map

4.4.2 Historical timeline

4.4.3 Seasonal Calendar

4.4.4 Ranking impacts

4.4.5 Line graphs

4.4.6 Semi-structured interview (Part 2 of PRA)

4.5 Key informant interviews

5 CHAPTER-V: RESULTS

5.1 General description of survey respondents

5.1.1 Age and gender status of respondents

5.1.2 Literacy and education status of the respondents

5.1.3 Income structure of the respondents

5.1.4 Farmers’ property and access to resources

5.2 Farmers’ perception on climate change impacts in Central Dry Zone (CDZ)

5.2.1 Understanding Climate Change: it’s meaning and climate change trends

5.2.2 Farmers’ experience of living with natural disasters

5.2.3 Farmers’ perception of climate risks and climate change impacts on crop production

5.3 Farmers’ adaptation to climate change impacts in agricultural production

5.3.1 Changes in crops

5.3.2 Changes in crop varieties

5.3.3 Changes in cropping practices

5.3.4 Adaptation of land and water resource management

5.3.5 Adaptation: outcomes and inputs needed

5.3.6 Unaccomplished adaptation: Reasons for not adapting

6 CHAPTER-VI: DISCUSSION

6.1 Exposure to climate risks, perception of climate risks, needs for adaptation

6.2 Adaptation practices, relations to risk perception, adaptation outcomes

6.3 Conditions for successful adaptation.

7 CHAPTER- VII: LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

8 CHAPTER-VIII: CONCLUSION

9 CHAPTER-IX: RECOMMENDATION

Research Objectives and Themes

This study aims to investigate how farmers in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar perceive climate change-related risks and impacts on their agricultural production, and to explore the adaptive strategies they employ to cope with these environmental challenges.

• Impacts of climate change on smallholder farming livelihoods.
• The relationship between risk perception and adaptation strategies.
• Traditional versus expert knowledge in agricultural decision-making.
• Socio-economic barriers to effective climate adaptation (e.g., credit, technology).
• Development of strategies to enhance community resilience.

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Summary of Chapters

CHAPTER-I: INTRODUCTION: Introduces the critical role of agriculture in Myanmar and the increasing vulnerability of the Central Dry Zone to climate change, setting the research objectives.

CHAPTER-II: CONCEPT AND FRAMEWORKS OF THE STUDY: Explains the conceptual background regarding climate change, vulnerability, resilience, and the theoretical linkages between perception and adaptation.

CHAPTER-III: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE: Reviews existing studies on farmer perceptions of climate change and adaptation practices, including a specific overview of climate risks in the Central Dry Zone.

CHAPTER-IV: MATERIALS AND METHODS: Describes the methodology, including the selection of the study area, household surveys, and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools.

CHAPTER-V: RESULTS: Presents the findings of the empirical study, covering respondent characteristics, perception of climate risks, and adaptation strategies currently applied.

CHAPTER-VI: DISCUSSION: Interprets the findings by comparing them with other studies, focusing on exposure, adaptation outcomes, and the conditions required for success.

CHAPTER- VII: LIMITATION OF THE STUDY: Outlines the constraints faced during the research process, such as time limitations for fieldwork and representative issues.

CHAPTER-VIII: CONCLUSION: Summarizes the key insights, concluding that traditional knowledge must be integrated with expert knowledge for successful adaptation.

CHAPTER-IX: RECOMMENDATION: Proposes actionable advice for policy-makers and stakeholders to improve adaptation planning through targeted interventions and better extension services.

Keywords

agronomic practices, drought, erratic rainfall, groundwater adoption, traditional and expert knowledge, climate change, adaptation, resilience, Central Dry Zone, Myanmar, sustainable agriculture, risk perception, crop diversification, smallholder farmers, food security.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this research?

The research examines how farmers in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar perceive climate change impacts and how they adapt their agricultural practices to these changes.

What are the primary themes investigated?

The study centers on farmer perception, climate risk exposure, vulnerability, adaptation strategies, and the barriers to effective agricultural change.

What is the main objective of the thesis?

The primary objective is to understand the linkages between how farmers perceive climate risks and the specific strategies they develop to maintain agricultural production and livelihoods.

Which scientific methodology was applied?

The study utilized a mixed-methods approach, including structured household surveys, Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRA), and key informant interviews with experts.

What topics are discussed in the main body?

The main body covers climate risk exposure, empirical results from the survey, discussions on adaptation outcomes, and an analysis of the barriers to implementation.

Which keywords define this work?

Key terms include agronomic practices, drought, erratic rainfall, groundwater adoption, and the synthesis of traditional and expert knowledge.

How does the Central Dry Zone differ from other regions?

The region is described as the most water-stressed area of Myanmar, characterized by high population density, poverty, and heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture.

Why are traditional and expert knowledge considered separately?

The study suggests that while traditional knowledge provides a practical basis for adaptation, it is no longer sufficient alone, requiring integration with modern expert knowledge for long-term success.

What is the major reason cited by farmers for not adapting?

The primary barriers include a lack of financial resources, limited access to modern technology and information, and market uncertainty regarding new crops.