Comprehensive Tool for Assessing Farmers’ Knowledge and Perception of Climate Change and Sustainable Adaptation: Evidence from Himalayan Mountain Region

Knowledge and perceptions are prerequisites for contributing to CC mitigation and adaptation. This paper developed a framework and a tool (scale) to capture farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of all aspects of CC. We involved 15 extremely qualified (those with PhD degrees in agriculture and allied disciplines and experience in scale construction and CC research) experts and 83 highly qualified (a minimum of a PhD degree in agriculture and allied fields was the prerequisite criterion for acting as a judge) judges in the construction of this scale. Further, we adopted factor analysis to draw valid conclusions. We proposed 138 items/statements related to 14 dimensions/issues (General, GHGs, Temperature, Rainfall, Agricultural emissions, shifting cultivation, rice cultivation, Mitigation, C-sequestration, Impact on Agriculture, Livestock, Wind, Natural disaster, Impact, and Adaptation) associated with agriculture and CC scenarios. Finally, 102 items/statements were retained with six indicators/dimensions. The results indicate that the scale explains 83% of variance. The scale is highly consistent (Cronbach alpha = 0.985) and widely applicable to future research and policy decisions. Further, the scale was adopted (with 100 respondents) to assess consistency and validity. Finally, the tool (scale) for assessing farmers’ knowledge and perceptions of CC was prepared for further use and replication. The policy and research system may adopt the framework and scale to assess stakeholders’ inclusive knowledge and perceptions of CC. The findings of this study may be helpful for policymakers, researchers, development workers, and extension functionaries.