Investigating Rural People Perceptions of Climate Changes and Adaptation Strategies in Zabol County

This study aimed to investigate the rural people perceptions of climate change and adaptation strategies in Zabol County. Descriptive research methods based on questionnaire survey were employed. Target population includes 107282 of the rural dwellers in Zabol in which 380 samples were selected by the Cochran formula. Results indicated that half of respondents had strong and very strong perception about climate changed. The results of strategies prioritizing showed that conservative, economic and social strategies have more importance to cope with climate change in the area. Most respondents highlight strategies such as investment reeducation in agricultural production, sale of diverse assets, water storing, improving farm operation, migration to the cities and participation in training programs among main triple type of strategies. The independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA results showed that the perception of climate change, gender, education level, agriculture experience, occupation type, livestock ownership, drought insurance and income have impacted on using adaptation strategies to cope with climate change. Friedman test showed that the physical, social and economic limitations to face climate changes were more important respectively among rural people. Limitations such as building large dams in the Afghanistan, non-efficacy of storage systems at the regional level, lack of suitable water storage, lack of financial strength, non-ability to get credit, lack of funds for using modern methods of irrigation, lack of knowledge of strategies for coping climate change and lack of cooperation from some people to consume water less were most restrictions for dealing climate change. The independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA results showed perception of restriction of coping with climate change were influenced by marital status, education level, length of residence, type of occupation, livestock ownership and drought insurance.