=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-3293/paper44
|storemode=property
|title=Transhumance Farmers' Perceptions of Climate Change in the Mediterranean Region, Turkey
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3293/paper44.pdf
|volume=Vol-3293
|authors=Selime Canan,Sezen Ocak Yetisgin
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/haicta/CananY22
}}
==Transhumance Farmers' Perceptions of Climate Change in the Mediterranean Region, Turkey==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-3293/paper44.pdf
Transhumance Farmers' Perceptions of Climate Change in the
Mediterranean Region, Turkey
Selime Canan 1 and Sezen Ocak Yetisgin 2
1
Ondukuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Agriculture Department of Agricultural Economics 55139 Samsun,
Turkey
2
Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science 55139 Samsun, Turkey
Abstract
The perception of climate change (i), observations on climate change (ii) and climate change
adaptation strategies (iii) of 37 transhumance farmers were questioned. The study was carried
out in Silifke, Aydıncık, Erdemli district of Mersin province in the Mediterranean Region,
Turkey. The data analysis was done both using qualitative and quantitative methods. Likert-
type scale was used to measure perception on climate changes and adaptation strategies.
Majority of farmers have heard of climate change (71%). Almost all farmers observed both the
frequency and severity of extreme climatic events such as drought (58%), heat and unreliable
rainfall (86%), reflecting actual trends in rainfall and temperature in the study area and farmers
focused mainly on selling livestock (100%) (mostly to cope with degraded natural
grassland/feed deficiency) as an adaptive strategy. There is a massive gap on the adaptative
strategies action plan in the regional administration. In light of the aforementioned findings
and shortfalls, it is suggested that early warning policy systems be developed with the goal of
making transhumance farmers aware of future climate variability and potential shocks so that
they can take proactive steps to employ various approaches that best suit different agro-climatic
conditions.
Keywords 1
Transhumance, climate change, Mediterranean, Turkey
1. Introduction
The frequency and severity of climate and weather extremes is increasing. These extremes range
from unprecedented forest fires and heatwaves right above the Arctic Circle to devastating droughts in
the Mediterranean region. Desertification, biodiversity loss, and land and ecological degradation are
examples of slow-onset occurrences. So, climate change, which has wide-ranging effects, puts pressure
on ecosystems. Climate change both affects and is affected by agriculture. Transhumance is one of the
most vulnerable activities in livestock production systems, as it is the one that is most affected by
climate change. Drought, water scarcity, and a decline in biodiversity as a result of rising temperatures
force transhumance farmers to seek plateau/pasture, shift migration routes, reduce agricultural product
yields, exacerbate existing socioeconomic disparities, and jeopardize cultural heritage. As a result,
developing and implementing climate change adaptation plans and regulations is critical in order to
forecast the effects of climate change and limit or prevent them. Scientific research on climate change
that incorporate observations, data, information, forecasts, indicators, and evaluations are required. To
benefit from the development of sectoral climate change strategies and action plans, transhumance
farmers' perceptions of climate change (I) observations on climate change (ii), and climate change
adaptation methods (iii) were questioned in this study.
Proceedings of HAICTA 2022, September 22–25, 2022, Athens, Greece
EMAIL: selimekaya_@hotmail.com (A. 1); sezenocak1@gmail.com (A. 2)
ORCID: 0000-0002-8041-3272 (A. 1); 0000-0002-8201-4857 (A. 2)
©️ 2022 Copyright for this paper by its authors.
Use permitted under Creative Commons License Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
CEUR Workshop Proceedings (CEUR-WS.org)
232
Many studies in the worldwide literature examine people's perceptions of climate change and the
need of adaptation, disclose the consequences of climate change on them and how sensitive they are,
and raise questions about transhumance farmers' viability in the context of climate change (Ayanda et
al., 2013; Aryal et al., 2013; McGuirk and Nunn, 2014; Aryal et al., 2014a; Aryal et al., 2016; Aryal et
al., 2014b; Lopez-Saez et al., 2016; Rayamajhi and Manandhar, 2020). Farmers' perceptions of climate
change, as well as their contribution to and impact on it, were the topic of national studies in different
production systems yet no tranhumance systems was considered (Çakmak and Gökalp, 2011; Başoglu
and Telatar, 2013; Polat and Dellal, 2016a; Polat and Dellal, 2016b; Bayraç and Dogan, 2016; Akyüz
and Atış, 2016; Akyüz, 2019). The study will also contribute to the literature in this regard.
2. Material and Methods
The study was carried out in Silifke, Aydıncık, Erdemli district of Mersin province in the
Mediterranean Region, Turkey (Figure 1). Data collection was carried out in 2020 summer season.
Complete count sampling method was used to select the respondents for transhumance farmers’ face to
face questionnaire-survey. Direct observation was done in potential site of Silifke and Aydıncık rural
municipality to acquire in-depth information on biophysical changes, challenges, and local adaptation
measures for the seasonal movement cycle. The data analysis was done both using qualitative and
quantitative method. Likert-type scale was used to measure perception on climate changes and
adaptation strategies.
Figure 1: Location map of the study area
3. Results and Discussion
The average age of farmers was 60 (10.46), their education level was primary (4.89) school and 30%
of the farmers were illiterate. 29% of the farmers made decisions alone, 57% with their families, and
14% with the influence of the social environment. Average household size was 8 (4.62). 29% of the
farmers children were working for in other jobs besides transhumance. The average herd size of the
farmers consisted of 318 (93.84) head/goats. Approximately 29% of the farmers were engaged in crop
production besides goat farming. The average pasture areas where they grazed were 66 (15.05)
da/household.
Most of transhumance farmers (71 %) did hear and were aware of climate change over the last 20
years. And 29 % of transhumance farmers were using smart phone and radio as primary information
source for weather forecast.
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The transhumance system, which relies entirely on natural resources, is more affected by the impacts
of climate change. Most of the farmers acknowledged that there is a severe rise in temperature and
extreme weather events. All farmers perceived an increase in temperature and a decrease in rainfall.
Transhumance farmers perceived droughts (58%), a decrease in water resources (72%). Also, farmers
perceived a decrease in biodiversity. 57% of farmers perceived decrease in the number of predator
attracts and 71% of them perceived decrease in the number of bees and insects population. The rate of
farmers who observed and did not observe the decrease in natural rangeland/grassland was equal.
Despite these alterations, the migration path, duration, and time have remained same (Table 1). (Table
1). Although the farmers did not perceive the incidence of natural disasters as the effect of climate
change, great fire disasters occurred in the Mediterranean region very soon after the data were collected.
Table 1
Perceived impact of climate change by farmers*
Frequency (%) Mean
1 2 3 4 5
Decrease in productivity 14 57 14 15 - 2,29
Increase in labor cost 29 57 14 - - 1,86
Change in rainfall - - - 29 71 4,71
Change in temperature - - - 43 57 4,57
Change in water resources - - 29 29 43 4,14
Drought - - 43 29 29 2,86
Change in the number of predator - 29 14 43 14 3,43
Change in the number of bees and insects - - 29 57 14 3,86
Incidence of natural disasters 29 57 14 - - 1,86
Change of migration route 86 - 14 - - 1,29
Change in migration time and duration 14 57 14 14 - 2,29
Increase in use of drugs and chemicals - - 57 29 14 3,57
Increase in water consumption 14 72 - 14 - 2,14
Difficulties in paying loans 57 29 14 - - 1,57
Decrease in natural rangeland/grassland - 14 72 14 - 3,00
*not agree at all: 1, not agree: 2, undecided: 3, agree: 4, fully agree: 5
All farmers noted that there has been a decrease in annual rainfall. Also, they noted that there has
been an increase in amount of rainfall in summer and a decrease in amount of rainfall in winter. Many
farmers reported changes in duration of drought, hot days and cold days (Table 1). Knowing that most
of the farmers observing the impacts of climate change, we explored those perceived risks to their
production system varies a lot.
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Table 2
Observations on climate change impacts*
Frequency (%)
1 2 3 4
Amount of rainfall/annual - - 100 -
Amount of rainfall/winter - 43 57 -
Amount of rainfall/summer 100 - - -
Duration of drought 100 - - -
Flooding - 43 29 29
Temperature/winter - 29 71 -
Temperature/summer 86 - 14 -
Duration of hot days 86 - 14 -
Duration of cold days 57 43 - -
Wind speed/drought season 14 43 43 -
Wind speed/rainy season 14 57 28 -
Number of new diseases in goats - 71 - 29
*increased: 1, no change: 2, decreased: 3, undecided: 4
We asked the farmers who stated that they had observed changes in the climate in the last 20 years,
to indicate the adjustments they made in their farming activities (Table 3). Adaptation strategies of
transhumance farmers mostly involved changes in feed operation practices and selling livestock. Most
had adjusted their management of farming resources to climate change with biophysical and farm
operational adaptation measures, they optimized feed storage (47%), added supplement to their ratio
(46%), stored water (29%) and sell livestock (100%).
The research findings are in line with the studies of Rayamajhi and Manandhar in northern Nepal
(2020) and Aryal et al., (2016) in the Himalayas. In both studies, transhumance farmers perceived
change in railfall, temprerature, water resources, drought, incidence of natural disasters. And the
farmers reported change in amount of annual rainfall, winter rainfall, muson rainfall, duration of
drought, winter temperature and summer temperature.
Table 3
Adaptation strategies of farmers
Yes (%) No (%)
Change in feed/ratio - 100
Supplement use 46 54
Improved water storage 29 61
Better feed storage 47 53
Diverse feed use 100 -
Sell livestock 100 -
Rainwater harvesting - 100
Considering crop feed production 42 58
4. Conclusions
This study highlighted the transhumance farmers' perceptions of climate change and which
adaptation strategies they are considering. Almost all farmers observed both the frequency and severity
of extreme climatic events such as drought, heat and unreliable rainfall, reflecting actual trends in
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rainfall and temperature in the study area. Although most transhumant farmers (who are active
observers of changes in climate and ecosystem) recognized the risks associated with climate change,
they were not diligent to consider adaptation strategies other than selling livestock to sustain their
farming which further contributes to their low adaptive capacity. While selling livestock seems a quick
return subsidy, the risk of decreased livestock production and food security is disregarded. The major
issue with this inattentive approach is the risk of sustainability of the transhumance production system
in the future.
Regional adaptation actions could be established as first step by identifying water and pasture
availability for future migration routes. The decision-making process of politicians will be supported
by using remote sensing, smart weather stations, artificial intelligence and high-performance computing
technologies in water and rangeland management. Against forest fires that directly affect transhumance
farmers, climate change adaptation should be integrated into biodiversity friendly afforestation and
reforestation guidelines and future forest strategy. Data measuring disaster losses as a result of climate
change are insufficient.
5. References
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Agriculture, 2019. İzmir, Turkey.
[2] Y. Akyüz, and E. Atış, A Study of Climate Change and Agriculture Interaction from Two Aspects
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Participation, 08-09 November 2016, Şanlıurfa, pp. 119-127.
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[4] S. Aryal, Maraseni, T.N. G. Cockfield, Climate Change and Indigenous People: Perceptions of
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