Social Resilience of Iranian Potato Farmers Against Climate Changes

This research focuses on assessing the social resilience of potato farmers in Iran, specifically their ability to tackle the challenges associated with climate change. A quantitative approach was employed using a descriptive survey and cross-sectional design to investigate potato farmers in Kermanshah City, Iran. The study selected a sample of 277 participants through cluster random sampling with proportional allocation. Data was collected using a researcher-made questionnaire based on the S5 model, which was validated by experts from Razi University and Jahad Keshavarzi Organization. Reliability of the data was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, and the analysis was conducted using SPSS. The findings highlight the influence of social structure, social equity and beliefs, social mechanism and social capital on social resilience in the family farming system and rental farming system. Non-indigenous rental farmers prioritize these dimensions as crucial for resilience, with the non-indigenous rental farming system demonstrating the highest social resilience score (18.89), followed by the indigenous rental farming system (15.59), and the family farming system (14.36). Factors contributing to the higher social resilience of non-indigenous rental farmers include better education, transportation access, a capable workforce, higher revenue, job diversity, larger farms, financial stability, a favourable cost-to-income ratio and familiarity with climate changes. On the other hand, the family farming system shows relatively higher resilience (score: 2.19) despite facing limitations due to an ageing population. Previous studies have established a negative relationship between age and resilience, as younger individuals with greater physical capabilities tend to exhibit more flexibility and adaptability. In conclusion, non-indigenous rental farmers demonstrate the highest overall social resilience, while the family farming system exhibits the lowest resilience. To enhance social resilience in diverse farming systems, the study suggests the establishment of small-scale processing industries, promotion of social participation, provision of support during emergencies and implementation of income improvement programmes. These recommendations are crucial for strengthening the adaptive capacity and long-term sustainability of agrarian systems, enabling them to effectively tackle challenges arising from climate change and other factors. The implications of this study offer valuable insights for researchers, policy-makers and practitioners, emphasizing the significance of tailored strategies, community-based initiatives and collaborative approaches in fostering resilient farming communities.

Automated summary

This research assesses the social resilience of potato farmers in Iran, specifically their ability to tackle the challenges associated with climate change. The study found that social structure, social equity and beliefs, social mechanism, and social capital have an influence on social resilience in both family farming systems and rental farming systems. Non-indigenous rental farmers prioritize these dimensions as crucial for resilience, with the non-indigenous rental farming system demonstrating the highest social resilience score. On the other hand, the family farming system shows relatively higher resilience despite facing limitations due to an ageing population.