Coping with climate change: an analysis of farmers’ adoption behavior and its impact on production efficiency

Risk factors in farming are increasing because of widespread challenges posed by global climate change. In Bangladesh, the coastal and riverine areas are likely to be the awful victim. Local farmers have developed strategies to counteract climate challenges. While some studies have addressed local adoption behavior, few have investigated the effectiveness of these strategies. This study aims to explore the factors influencing farmers’ decisions to adopt specific strategies and the resulting effects on farm production efficiency in particular agro-climatic zones. We gathered data from 400 participants farming in these state-designated zones and assessed efficiency levels using data envelopment analysis. To evaluate the inefficiency of the coping strategies practiced by farmers, we employed a Tobit model. The two primary coping strategies were adjusting sowing times and adopting stress-tolerant crop varieties. Results revealed that experienced farmers with more years of schooling have higher adoption rate. Farm families who are suffering from the adverse effects of climate change directly on some proportion of their land and who are risk-averse show a positive correlation with adoption practices. The study also found that farmers who adjusted sowing times alone or in conjunction with other strategies showed greater efficiency across all categories, whereas farmers who solely adopted stress-tolerant varieties faced inefficiency due to the lower yields of these specific crops. Our research provides insights into how migration opportunities inversely correlate with strategy adoption, suggesting a potential threat to food security. Our findings could inform future agricultural policies aimed at maximizing efficiency and ensuring food security.