Perception of farmers towards climate change: A formative measurement PLS-SEM Approach

Abstract

Climate change is an imminent threat to agricultural sustainability, rural livelihoods, and food security. Agricultural producers (farmers) are key stakeholders and should take on the leadership role in adopting Climate Change Mitigating Strategies (CMS) to reduce and minimize the adverse impact of climatic factors. This study uses PLS-SEM to investigate the impact of farmers' perception and knowledge levels on CMS adoption. A standardized questionnaire was used to interview key farmers about their perceptions towards change of climatic conditions, awareness of its impact, and willingness to adopt or implement climate-mitigating activities. The proposed model indicates that perception and awareness are two variables that shape the determinants of CMS. As part of the study, several key findings show that perception significantly increases the likelihood of farmers adopting CMS, while awareness of climate change also has a positive effect. This study augments the literature on adoption strategies for climate change by policymakers, extension, and practitioners involved in rural development practice.