Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Extension and Education of Agriculture, Faculty of Economics and Agricultural Development, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
Abstract
Keywords
Extended Abstract
Objectives
One of the biggest challenges facing agriculture in the coming decades and even now is how to deal with the negative effects of climate change to ensure food security and reduce global poverty. Social learning plays an increasing role as a framework for a behavioral change and social interactions. The social learning approach covers a wide range area, but generally involves a cycle of knowledge sharing, joint knowledge-building activities, relationships, and action between different stakeholders. Analysis of areas that lead to collective learning in adapting to climate change has a pivotal role in designing strategies that minimize negative consequences of climate change and protect health and food security of the community. A review of the literature indicates that although multiple studies have been done on the factors affecting psychological empowerment, but most of these studies have examined only a few limited factors and the literature in this field is very scattered. In general, previous studies can be categorized in four sections. The first group has studied the role of individual and psychological variables and the degree of resilience in social learning in adaptation. The second category examines the role of individual participation and the capacity of society in creating a participatory environment and social interactions and the influence of each stakeholders. The third group examines the role of social networks, informal networks and observational learning in the success of the social learning approach in adaptation, and finally in the fourth group, management systems and structural changes in society and capacity building have been examined.
Methods
The present study used qualitative and content analysis research method for two reasons. First was the dispersion of previous studies and the difficulties in the combining all factors and components of social learning in farmers 'adaptation to climate change and two was that in the previous studies the emphasis was on the factors affecting individual compatibility’s behaviors of farmers instead of different social dimensions of farmers' adaptations behavior. The aim was to determine the role of various factors influencing social learning in adapting to climate change from the perspective of experts in the study area. The participants of this study consisted of experts from Jihad Keshavarzi, agricultural research centers, professors of the Faculty of Agriculture and the Regional Water Company researchers who have been experts in the field of climate change and have studies in this respect and among them, 17 were selected based on theoretical saturation criteria and using snowball sampling method. Using semi-structured and open interviews that included 11 questions, the views of relevant experts were obtained, which was analyzed by MAXQDA12 software. In order to increase the validity of the results, various techniques were used such as maintaining the necessary conditions and having theoretical sensitivity in data collection and repeated review of data.
Results
The present study was conducted to design and explain the components of social learning in farmers' adaptation to climate change by identifying the effective factors in this field. A total of 17 interviews were conducted with experts in the field of climate change adaptation, of which 2 were female and the rest were male. The results of data analysis by MAXQDA12 software showed that according to the interviewees, various factors in social learning affect farmers' adaptation to climate change that can be classified into 5 main groups that categorized into 20 subcategories and 99 codes which includes: The dimensions of climate change in the province, the individual, social and economic variables, the existence of adaptive technologies, integrated stakeholder management and access to virtual and traditional communication networks.
Discussion
The results of this study showed that several factors in social learning are effective in farmers' adaptation to climate change. Among these factors, we can mention the role of learning networks, social participation of stakeholders and the importance and access to communication infrastructure. Regarding access to communication networks, which is one of the effective components in social learning in adaptation, the results of other studies emphasized on increasing and developing communication capacities, the emergence of innovative solutions based on trust building between stockholders, transparency and the positive effects of formal and informal communication channels on social learning. According to the research results, in relation to each categories, suggestions were made. These suggestions include the development of communication infrastructure and the development of virtual services, empowering farmers to use the potential of communication networks, capacity building and strengthening communication between experts and farmers through social networks, strengthening communication channels, providing financial incentives, supporting social networks and non-governmental organizations, holding workshops and training courses in the field of social networks, using young local leaders who are capable of using social and virtual networks, strengthening the participation of all stakeholders in decision-making and monitoring of common interests in order to reduce tensions and create empathy and cooperation in the implementation of joint decisions and increase legal protections for the spread of social networks and non-governmental organizations in order to implement agreed collective activities in adaptation to climate change..
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