Strategies for Localizing Adaptation to Climate Change in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions of Iran

Subject Areas : Agriculture and climate

Reza Firouzi Zargar ¹ , Elham Habibollah ² , Mina Torabifard ³ , Mehran Khalesi ⁴

1 - Department of Environment, Damavand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damavand, Iran
2 - Department of Environment, Damavand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damavand, Iran
3 - Department of Environment, Damavand Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damavand, Iran
4 - Department of Environmental Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2025-01-13 Accepted : 2025-02-21 Published : 2025-02-12

Keywords: Climate change, Agricultural adaptation, Arid and semi-arid regions,

Abstract :

Climate change resulting from increased production and emissions of greenhouse gases has become one of the greatest environmental challenges. This study examines the agricultural adaptation strategies to climate change in the arid and semi-arid regions of Iran. The main objective of this research is to analyze the common strategies adopted by farmers to cope with the negative impacts of climate change and to offer suggestions for improving water resource management practices in these areas. To achieve this objective, field data were collected from local farmers and analyzed using questionnaires. Various statistical tests, including the Chi-square test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis, were applied to examine the relationships between variables and analyze the data. The results revealed that the two main strategies employed by farmers for adapting to climate change are changing crop types (66.7%) and using modern irrigation systems (53.3%). These findings suggest that farmers are particularly focused on altering crop patterns and utilizing modern irrigation technologies. Additionally, the analysis showed that reduced water resources and increased temperatures are considered the two primary impacts of climate change, with a strong correlation between the two (correlation coefficient of 0.85). Moreover, the results from the ANOVA test specifically highlighted the prioritization of developing modern irrigation infrastructure as one of the most significant needs for farmers and the study area. Therefore, it is recommended that farmers receive training on using advanced irrigation technologies and planting drought-resistant species. Policymakers should also provide special support measures to address the negative effects of climate change, including promoting research on the development of new irrigation technologies and selecting species resilient to dry climatic conditions. This research can serve as a scientific basis for agricultural policymaking in the arid and semi-arid regions of Iran, as well as for water resource management planning in response to the challenges of climate change.

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