FARMERS’ KNOWLEDGE ON CLIMATE CHANGE FOR CROP PRODUCTION

Abstract

The objectives of the study are to determine farmers’ knowledge on climate change, to determine the relationship between selected characteristics of the farmers and to determine the constraints faced by the farmers due to climate change. The study was conducted in Sadar Upazilas of Rangpur and Thakurgaon districts. One hundred five farmers were selected randomly as sample of the study. A pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect data from the farmers during 1 February to 15 March 2017. The knowledge on climate change of the farmers ranged from 3 to 20 against the possible range of 0 to 21. The average score is 12.19 and standard deviation is 4.03. The highest proportion (67.6 percent) of the farmers of the study area had medium knowledge on different climate change issues, while 16.2 percent had low knowledge and 16.2 percent of the farmers have high knowledge on different climate change issues. Out of eight selected characteristics of the farmers, level of education, farm size, training received and perception of climate change have positive significant relation with farmers’ knowledge on climate change. Again, out of eight selected characteristics of the farmer, farm size, training received and perception of climate change have positive significant relation with constrained faced by the respondents due to climate change. Working at crop field has become difficult due to hotness, summer temperature increases and outbreak of pests and diseases are the top most three problems farmers facing due to change of climate.