From perception to policy: adaptation strategies for agricultural resilience in a changing climate

Drought poses significant challenges to agricultural systems, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, emphasizing the need to understand resilience strategies and their determinants to inform climate policies. This study assessed farmers' resilience to climatic drought using a relational framework connecting farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies, aiming to support climate-resilient pistachio orchards (POs) in Rafsanjan, Iran. The research was conducted in three stages: (i) Regional Drought Assessment—drought status was evaluated using indices and individual farmer characteristics; (ii) Perception Analysis—farmers’ awareness of drought and environmental impacts was examined; and (iii) Adaptation Strategy Identification—binary logit regression identified farmers’ adaptation strategies. Data were collected through structured questionnaires from 130 pistachio growers and regional climate datasets. Findings indicated declining regional drought indices (0.4 to − 1.11), reflecting increasing severity. Farmers reported major socio-economic impacts, including social conflict, migration, and poverty, as well as environmental effects such as groundwater depletion and poor water quality. Adaptation varied by age and experience, with key strategies including adoption of advanced irrigation technologies, off-farm employment, and securing land and water resources outside the region. These strategies enhanced resilience and reduced vulnerability to drought. To ensure the sustainability of pistachio orchards, the study highlights the importance of strengthening farmers’ capabilities and adaptive capacity. These insights serve as a foundation for developing targeted policies and advancing transformative climate governance for agricultural sustainability in drought-prone areas.