Explanation a Gardeners' Sustainable Livelihood Resilience Model to Climate Change in Hamadan Province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Ali Tohidimoghadam ¹
• Alireza Poursaeed ¹
• Masoud Bijani ²
• Roya Eshraghi Samani ³

¹ Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Ilam Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran

² Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, College of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Agricultural Economics, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.

Abstract

Keywords

• Gardeners
• Livelihood sustainability
• Resilience
• Climate change
• Adaptation capacity

Main Subjects

• Agricultural Economics, Extension and Education, Development, , ....

Extended Abstract

Introduction

One key strategy to enhance the sustainable livelihoods of local communities in the face of environmental challenges such as climate change is to boost their resilience to disruptions within ecological systems. Accordingly, this study sought to elucidate the resilience model of gardeners' sustainable livelihoods in Hamadan province confronted with climate change.

Methodology

     In terms of paradigm, this research is quantitative research, based on the purpose of applied research, and in terms of controlling the studied variables, it is a non-experimental type that was conducted as a survey. According to the application of structural equation modeling to examine and analyze the conceptual model of research, the method of this research is of the causal-relational type and variance-covariance matrix analysis. Considering that the priority garden products in Hamadan province include blue grapes, apples, walnuts, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries and cherries, and these products account for 65% of the total production of garden products in Hamadan province. They suffer irreparable damages against climate change. Therefore, the socio-statistics of the research includes all the gardeners producing the aforementioned garden products in Hamadan province, whose number is 53785 (N=53785). The sample size was determined using the table of Krejcie & Morgan (1970), 380 people. The sampling method of the research was staged, and the sample size was randomly stratified according to the city where the gardener was active. The research tool was a researcher-made questionnaire that was prepared in 2 parts. The first part was related to the personal and professional characteristics of the studied gardeners, and the second part was based on the research objectives and included items for measuring the independent and dependent variables of the research. After completing the questionnaires, the obtained information was analyzed using SPSS₂₂ and Smart PLS₃ statistical software in the form of descriptive and inferential statistics.

Results

Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that on average, with a mean of 3.22 out of 5 (standard deviation=1.01), it can be deduced that the resilience of farmers in facing climate change in Hamadan province is assessed at a moderate level. Furthermore, based on the research findings and according to the coefficient of determination, 0.72 of the variability of the final dependent variable, the sustainable livelihood resilience of farmers in Hamadan province in facing climate change, is explained directly or indirectly by independent variables including environmental attitudes, environmental awareness, environmental beliefs, environmental norms, spatial attachment, and capacity to adapt to climate variations of the mentioned farmers (R²=0.72). The results from the structural equation modeling approach indicate that environmental norms (β = 0.691) and capacity to adapt to climate variations (β = 0.606) have a positive and significant impact on the sustainable livelihood resilience of farmers in Hamadan province in facing climate change. Additionally, according to the results, the environmental attitudes of farmers in Hamadan province have a positive and significant influence on their environmental beliefs (β=0.567). This is while farmers' spatial attachment has a positive and significant effect on their capacity to adapt to climate variations (β=0.610) and their environmental attitudes in facing climate change (β=0.617). Based on the results, the variable of environmental awareness of farmers in Hamadan province has a positive and significant impact on their capacity to adapt to climate variations (β=0.536), and the variable of environmental beliefs of farmers in Hamadan province also has a positive and significant effect on their environmental norms in facing climate change (β=0.667).

Conclusion

The findings of this research can be used for policy making and planning and decision-making in order to develop resilience and stabilize the livelihood of gardeners in Hamadan province in the face of climate change. In this regard, one of the important roles that the institutional department of agricultural promotion and education in the Departments of Agricultural Jihad and Environment of Hamadan province can play is to create capacity, encourage and motivate villagers to carry out resilient activities in the face of climate change, which can improve Their environmental belief and appropriate behavior to improve their resilience in the face of climate change should be effective.