Farm level adaptation to climate change in north China: behavioural practices and potential drivers

Climate change has profound impacts on agricultural production, to which farmers must adapt, but the role of farmers in climate change adaptation is largely unaddressed. This research targeted to construct an integrated picture of the farm level adaptation to climate change in north China. We performed a field survey in Hebei province, and uncover which farmer behaviours in reality constitute an adaptation and analyses the characteristics and heterogeneity of these behaviours. The results show that farmer adaptation is mostly limited to spontaneous behavioural adjustment. The most widely adopted adaptation strategy remains the use of fertilisers, pesticides and irrigation techniques that were widely used, whilst the adoption of advanced adaptation technologies is not yet sufficient. Farming experience and involvement into off-farm work probably restrict farmers’ involvement in adaptation. Farmers’ perception of climate change risks and recognition of the effectiveness of adaptation would drive the adoption of adaptation strategies, however, obstacles remain with regards to the availability of policy, technology, and infrastructure support at government level. The study recommends that governments need to provide more adaptation support while also focus on the dissemination of information on adaptation provision, as well as strengthen people’s perceptions of climate risks and the effectiveness of adaptation.