Adapting to climate change on the farm

Experiences of small-scale ecological farmers in two regions of China

Abstract

While ecological practices are widely recognized as effective strategies for addressing climate change, their adoption among smallholders is significantly influenced by the experiences of early adopters such as small-scale ecological farmers. Despite this important factor in adoption, few empirical studies have examined how small-scale ecological farmers experience climate change and evaluate the effec­tiveness of their ecological approaches. Drawing on data from in-depth inter­views, farm visits and surveys with 28 ecological farmers in China, we develop an integrative analyti­cal framework that uses farmers’ own narratives to examine how they perceive, are impacted by, and respond to climate change at the farm level. We found that beyond direct impacts on crop yield and quality, ecological farm productivity was under­mined as climate shocks disrupt agroecosystems, damage farm facil­ities, and pose health risks to farm workers. In response, farmers apply diverse ecological practices alongside socio-economic measures to build resili­ence. While the paper demonstrates the adaptive value of ecological prac­tices, it also reveals that their broader and success­ful adoption among smallholders is contingent upon overcoming substantial economic, social and institutional barriers. The study highlights the potential of bottom-up, farmer-led initiatives and advocates for targeted policies and services tailored specifically to the needs of ecological farmers.