This project is investigating effective methods and practices to increase farmer engagement in projects that encourage the adoption of drought- and climate-resilience practices and technologies. It will identify the barriers and challenges to farmer engagement and participation and recommend opportunities and strategies to overcome these.
Project description:
The SA Drought Hub initiative brings together key stakeholders related to primary production to strengthen drought resilience and preparedness of farming and regional communities in South Australia (SA Drought Hub, 2024). To aid their work, the present project investigates enablers and barriers to South Australian farmers implementing farming practice adaptations related to the impact of climate change on their operations.
The Australian Industrial Transformation Institute (AITI) was engaged by SA Drought Hub to investigate enablers and barriers to South Australian farmers undertaking climate change and drought resilience related adaptations to their farming operations. An online survey was conducted followed by phone interviews of those respondents who indicated a desire to be interviewed or who were referred to the project. The survey was conducted during the period from October 2023 to February 2024 and resulted in 94 usable responses. Interviews were conducted via phone between January and March 2024 and resulted in 26 interviews. This report presents and summarises the findings from both the survey and interviews.
The combination of quantitative and qualitative measures generated a breadth and depth of information, enabling the identification of thematic patterns related to the thoughts and experiences of participants about climate change related adaptations in the South Australian farming community.
Key achievements and results:
Study findings illuminated a range of suggested strategies to engage and activate farmers in climate-related adaptation. At a broader level, there were a range of key takeaway messages, as described below:
1. Work with local farming communities to develop a productive frame of reference for talking about climate risk, costs and benefits of adaptation, recognising the negative connotations associated with the broad concept of ‘climate change’, and distrust in some government/institutional proponents of climate change (perception of vested interests).
2. Those wishing to communicate with the farming community in order to enable change and overcome barriers should do so via existing trusted communication channels and by targeting information to specific farming types and communities. Personal, specific, and targeted communications are more likely to motivate adaptations, rather than broadcasting generic information to a wide audience. Furthermore, the content farmers are looking for is best described as evidence based and practical. Farmers are looking to answer questions such as “What does this mean for my operation?”, “How do I know it will work?”, “How have others like me implemented change?”, “How can I implement it?”, “What can I expect from the change?”, “How do I fund it?”
3. Farmers are highly compelled by local evidence (e.g., “looking over the fence” at what their neighbours are doing). Local trials, crop walks, opportunities for information exchange between local farmers (workshops, community events) are highly valued activities. It is recommended to take every opportunity to promote productivity gains and any other advantages flowing from the adoption of new methods in the local area (using hard data, demonstrable trends and case studies).
4. Proponents of farming-related climate adaptation should focus on developing local relationships and understanding the local farming ecosystem, who are the leaders/likely allies, what are the local priorities, how best to integrate climate-related adaptation with farmers’ immediate concerns and priorities (ensure these are consulted about/known).
5. It would be useful for the SA Drought Hub to support or liaise with/make best use of locally driven farming groups/networks to leverage considerable farmer trust in grower groups and agricultural bureaus. There is strong support for peer-to-peer interaction, which delivers learning, sharing, mutual support and inspirational benefits.
6. Cost is a significant constraint on introducing on-farm climate adaptation strategies. A favoured strategy is to financially support farmers to implement adaptive strategies through small, targeted grants geared to manageable, incremental steps toward climate adaptation. Ideally these are focused on capacity and capability building, less so on emergency drought relief measures which are sometimes viewed as propping up under-performing farming businesses.
7. There were limited options identified to engage and activate change-resistant farmers in climate-related adaptation. The suggested approach was to continue encouraging change-leaders in setting the pace of change, and using that momentum, coupled with targeted capability and capacity building, to propel the routine-oriented farmers forward. Resistant farming operations will likely be overtaken over time by more competitive businesses.
Further information:
DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT: Encouraging on-farm climate resilience adaptations (AITI) June 2024 (final) (PDF)