Author : Myo Win Maung

Summary : Primary data were gathered from the Monywa Township, Sagaing Region in Myanmar. Using geographical stratification, 50 respondents each from up-stream, mid-stream and down-stream, strata were randomly selected having a total; of 150 study respondents. The study aimed to 1) determine the factors influencing climate change awareness of rainfed-farmers; 2) determine the perceived effects of climate change among farmers growing four major crops such as pigeon pea, chick pea (pulses) and onion and garlic (culinary crops); 3) identify the methods of farm level adaptation practiced by farmers in coping climate variation and other factors; 4) study the relationship between awareness of climate change and farm level adaptation of rain-fed framers in Monywa township, Sagaing Region, Myanmar; 5) provide key recommendations to the concerned stakeholders to promote sustainable agriculture in area. Majority of the respondents are men who are likely to have access to information, skills and knowledge to adapt to climate change. Institutional factors that influence awareness of climate change include farm input costs, provision of farm machinery by either the private sector or the DoA, and agricultural support program. Over 43% of total respondents altered agriculture activities depending on input costs and 29% changed their farming system based on agricultural support of private or government sector due to the lack of access to capital/finance, water and agricultural inputs without due consideration of climate change. Perceived effects of climate change include negative effects to agriculture as the sown area was reduced due to pests and diseases infestation, insufficient availability of rainfall or heavy rainfall, shorter growing season, and increased erratic rainfall pattern. Among the four major crops in the study area, pigeon pea was heavily affected by variation in rainfall pattern since it is grown during the rainy season. Chick pea, onion and garlic are cultivated during th during the winter season according to cropping pattern. In terms of farm level adaptation, 72% of total; respondents used mono-cropping as traditional farming although mono-crop choices can make farmers extremely vulnerable to climate-induced shocks. The study showed that awareness of climate change is related to farm level adaptation. About 28% of the respondents changed cropping system from mono-cropping to other practices which include intercropping, mix-cropping, crop rotation and multiple cropping to minimize the risk of climate change in the dry zone area. Effective strategies to promote community resilience in the dry zone area must include building the capacity of individuals as well as communities to sustain agricultural productivity and household incomes. Human capacity development should be a priority to ensure effective farm level adaptation to climate change.