Awareness of and Adaptation to Climate Change among Table Grape Farmers

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the factors affecting the perception of and adaptation to climate change of table grape farmers. The sample population was 86 table grape farmers from Ratchaburi, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Pathom and Saraburi provinces. Simple random sampling was employed. Data was collected via construct-interview. The statistical testing consisted of percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression (with backward elimination). The results were as follows: 1. Basic data. Most of the farmers (73.30%) were male, and their average age was 46.82 years. Half of them (50.00%) had a primary school or lower education level. For most of them (81.40%), grape growing was their main occupation, and they had an average of 10.15 years of experience in the grape growing field. 2) Economic factors. The farmers produced an average yield of 34.83 tons per year. Their average gross income from grape production was 1,770,663 Baht per year, and their average cost of grape production was 647,383 Baht per year, leaving them with average net income from grape production of 1,123,280 Baht per year. 3) Social factors. Most of the farmers (80.23%) had never received any form

of grape production training and most of them (84.88%) had never been members of a group. 4) Cutivation.
The most common varieties of grapes grown were the Black Opal and White Malacca ones, and the average size of plantation was 10.31 rai. Most farmers (60.47%) planted grapes on the upland and 55.81% of them did not use plastic roofs and nets. 5) Factors that related to the farmers’ perception of climate change included occupation, group membership, planting method and physical evidence for climate change. 6) Factors that related to the farmers’ adaptation to climate change included occupation, grape growing experience, net income from grape production, training, grape varieties, physical signs of climate change on the grapes and their production, and soil fertility. The findings indicate that the farmers consider there are two ways of adapting to climate change, and these are to use plastic roofs and nets and to move their areas of cultivation from lowland to upland areas.