Adaptation to Climate Change from the Perspective of Farmers and Experts (Rostam City)

Climate change has had a significant impact on agriculture, especially in the low-income segment of society. Effective adaptation can increase the resilience of the agricultural sector and the level of food security in the face of climate change. The present study investigated the perceptions of farmers and government experts regarding climate change in the agricultural sector of Rostam City, Fars Province, its effect on agriculture, and adaptation to the observed trends. The adaptation strategy index (ASI) was used to prioritize strategies adapted to climate change, and the Krejcie and Morgan sampling method was used to collect responses from farmers (370 people) and experts (15 people). The validity of the answers was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The findings showed that the experts understood the main evidence and effects of climate change in the region. However, for farmers, hydro-climatic changes in water resources and precipitation were more tangible. They believed that this had a direct impact on income. Therefore, a large part of the studied community chose an adaptive strategy to save irrigation through modernization. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that there was a significant difference between the views of the local community and government experts. This issue can be an obstacle to the implementation of climate change adaptation strategies in the region. In addition to prioritizing and creating awareness, the optimal performance of adaptive policies requires coordination, preferably through a collaborative approach, and overcoming conflicts between local communities and government authorities.