Behavioural determinants of adaptation of farmers to climate change in rice cultivation in the mountainous area of Vietnam

Abstract

Abstract Climate change adaptation is one of the essential solutions for sustainable agricultural development in the context of global change. Besides socio-economical drivers, a thorough understanding of the behavioural dimension of climate change adaptation will provide important information for policymakers in promoting adaptation activities and contributing to the improvement of people’s livelihoods. The purpose of this study is to explore the knowledge gaps in understanding behavioural factors that affect adaptive intention in rice cultivation in the mountainous area of Vietnam. This research was carried out through a sociological survey of 254 rice-farming households in Da Bac districts, Hoa Binh province. Based on applying the Extended Theory of Planned Behaviour (E-TPB) and the data analysis using the PLS-SEM model, the research pointed out that the perceived impact of climate change and policy support are the most important determinants that affect the adaptation intention in rice cultivation. The research also discovered that the Extended Theory of Planned Behaviour explained 56.8% of the change in adaptive intention, much more than 11.9% in comparison with the basic TPB theory. The research emphasized the crucial role of policy support and raising awareness of climate change for farmers to promote the implementation of adaptive measures.