Barriers to Climate Change Adaptation of Wheat Producing Farmers; the Case of Çorum Province-Türkiye

Abstract

Global climate change, the effect of which has been increasingly felt in the last ten years, has made itself felt more in many regions in Turkey, especially in 2020 and 2021, and a serious temperature increase, floods and forest fires have been seen. Climate change affects the most vulnerable agricultural production. Since the adaptation of farmers to climate change is important in terms of food prices and sustainability of agricultural production, it is important to identify the barriers to adaptation of farmers to climate change. The aim of this research is to investigate the barriers to the adaptation to climate change of wheat producing farmers in Çorum province, where wheat is produced on 37% of the total agricultural land. In order to achieve this aim, 424 farmers were interviewed and their climate change 'understanding', 'perceptions', 'attitudes' and climate change adaptation 'barriers' were examined. As a result of the research, it has been determined that the farmers perceive climate change as "drying of water resources" and “increase in drought”, and they have an attitude that "we should strive together to adapt to the changing climate" rather than an individual struggle. In addition to these, it has been determined that “climate change is perceived as a serious problem” by the farmers and as a result of all these, the lack of “access to water resources” is the most important obstacle in adapting to climate change. In order to accelerate the adaptation of farmers to climate change, to protect them against the negative effects of climate change and to make local adaptation strategic plans, politicians, non-governmental organizations, public, private sector, universities, national and international organizations have important duties.