3 Religious and Cultural-Spiritual Attributions of Climate-Driven …
47
0
5
10
15
20
25
Lack of farming equipment (tilling tools and planting materials)
Labour (fewer than two people and old age)
Climate-related extreme events
No constraints
Pest and disease
Maintain the same crops and cropping system
Lack of awareness
Financial problem (lack of cash flow to obtain farming tools)
Land dispute
Theft
Change in soil
Population increase
Health of farmers
Home duties
Marketing
Percentage
Constraints/difficulties
Fig. 3.3 Summary of farmers’ responses on the constraints and difficulties limiting their farming
activities
Farmers’ Observation in 1988 and Perceptions for 2050
on Food Production
Fifty-six percent of farmers stated that by 2050, the population will continue to
increase; demand on space for development will limit the availability of land for
gardening, social conflict, theft, and land disputes will increase, and youth involvement in agriculture will decline due to lack of interest in farming. Compared to 1988
when climate change was not a major concern, there is more concern now and for
the future, particularly with changing rainfall patterns and the increasing proportions
of hot days. Although farmers show great concern, they are uncertain about climate
change and its impacts on crop production in the long term. The farmers’ concerns
for the future include unsustainable farming practices such as removal of useful vegetation to improve soil fertility on garden sites, repeated (unbroken) cultivation on the
same piece of land leading to loss of soil fertility, and loss of certain crop varieties
due to a shift to fast-yielding varieties. Farmers also identified the lack of appropriate
gardening tools, loss of planting materials, growing reliance on processed foods, and
concern that future generation will lose interest in farming due to modern influences.
Discussion
Local farmers play a significant role in food production (home gardening and cash
cropping) that contributes to household food security as well as the economy at local
and national levels. In the Solomon Islands, farming of crops, livestock husbandry,
fishing, and handicraft making are major sources of income (FAO and SPC 2019).
Home gardening is a common practice in most developing countries, including
the PICs and provides a source of food security and livelihood (Galhena et al.
47
0
5
10
15
20
25
Lack of farming equipment (tilling tools and planting materials)
Labour (fewer than two people and old age)
Climate-related extreme events
No constraints
Pest and disease
Maintain the same crops and cropping system
Lack of awareness
Financial problem (lack of cash flow to obtain farming tools)
Land dispute
Theft
Change in soil
Population increase
Health of farmers
Home duties
Marketing
Percentage
Constraints/difficulties
Fig. 3.3 Summary of farmers’ responses on the constraints and difficulties limiting their farming
activities
Farmers’ Observation in 1988 and Perceptions for 2050
on Food Production
Fifty-six percent of farmers stated that by 2050, the population will continue to
increase; demand on space for development will limit the availability of land for
gardening, social conflict, theft, and land disputes will increase, and youth involvement in agriculture will decline due to lack of interest in farming. Compared to 1988
when climate change was not a major concern, there is more concern now and for
the future, particularly with changing rainfall patterns and the increasing proportions
of hot days. Although farmers show great concern, they are uncertain about climate
change and its impacts on crop production in the long term. The farmers’ concerns
for the future include unsustainable farming practices such as removal of useful vegetation to improve soil fertility on garden sites, repeated (unbroken) cultivation on the
same piece of land leading to loss of soil fertility, and loss of certain crop varieties
due to a shift to fast-yielding varieties. Farmers also identified the lack of appropriate
gardening tools, loss of planting materials, growing reliance on processed foods, and
concern that future generation will lose interest in farming due to modern influences.
Discussion
Local farmers play a significant role in food production (home gardening and cash
cropping) that contributes to household food security as well as the economy at local
and national levels. In the Solomon Islands, farming of crops, livestock husbandry,
fishing, and handicraft making are major sources of income (FAO and SPC 2019).
Home gardening is a common practice in most developing countries, including
the PICs and provides a source of food security and livelihood (Galhena et al.