Qualitative Analysis of Farmers' Perceptions of Deforestation and Climate Change
Main Article Content
Mahdalena*
Ahmad Rajuli
This study aims to qualitatively analyse farmers' perceptions of deforestation and climate change and explore how these perceptions influence the agricultural adaptation strategies they implement. The study was conducted in X District, Y Province, Indonesia, using a qualitative descriptive approach. A total of 20–25 farmers were selected through purposive sampling based on a minimum of 10 years of farming experience. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and focus group discussions (FGDs), then analysed using thematic analysis with triangulation of sources and member checks to ensure the validity of the findings. The results showed that most farmers were aware of significant changes in the last 10–20 years, particularly erratic rainfall patterns, increased drought, and more frequent extreme weather events. In addition, farmers also identified deforestation, such as illegal logging and conversion of forests to plantations, as factors affecting microclimate change and land productivity. Although the level of scientific understanding of the relationship between deforestation and climate change varies, empirical experience is the main basis for shaping their risk perceptions and adaptive responses. Adaptation strategies implemented include crop diversification, planting schedule adjustments, crop rotation, soil conservation, shelterbelt planting, water management, and manual pest control. Differences in perceptions and adaptations were also found based on age groups, with more experienced farmers tending to have a more holistic understanding and implement more systematic conservation strategies. These findings confirm that risk perception plays an important role in shaping farmers' adaptive capacity. Therefore, climate change adaptation and mitigation policies need to consider local perspectives, strengthen access to information, and increase institutional support to encourage sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices.
Adiyoga, W., & Lukman, L. (2017). Persepsi dan Adaptasi Petani Sayuran terhadap Perubahan Iklim di Sulawesi Selatan (Vegetable Farmers’ Perception On Adaptation To Climate Change In Lowland And Highland Areas Of South Sulawesi). Jurnal Hortikultura, 27(2), 279–296.
Alimato, A., Masdiana, M., & Unton, A. R. (2025). Analisis Persepsi dan Kapasitas Adaptif Petani Sawah terhadap Perubahan Iklim di Kabupaten Maros. Jurnal Pendidikan Tambusai, 9(2), 12960–12968.
Andrista, S., Utami, N. P., Hukom, V., Nielsen, M., & Nielsen, R. (2025). Responses to climate change: Perceptions and adaptation among small-scale farmers in Indonesia. Journal of Environmental Management, 377, 124593.
Budiyoko, B., Rachmah, M. A., Verrysaputro, E. A., & Wulandari, E. R. (2023). Persepsi petani padi terhadap perubahan iklim di Kecamatan Kembaran Kabupaten Banyumas. Proceedings Series on Physical & Formal Sciences, 5, 195–202.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2023). Research Design Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed. Sixth Edition (6th ed.).
Faiqoh, D. N., & Hani, E. S. (2022). Persepsi dan Strategi Adaptasi Petani Kubis terhadap Dampak Perubahan Iklim di Desa Sumberrejo Kecamatan Ambulu Kabupaten Jember. Jurnal Kirana, 3(1), 43–60.
Gbawoquiya, F. L., & Cherif, M. P. (2022). Farmers’ Perception on the Impact of Deforestation Influencing Climate Change. American Journal of Environment and Climate (AJEC), 1(2), 53–58.
Guba, E. G., & Lincoln, Y. S. (1994). Competing paradigms in qualitative research. Handbook of Qualitative Research, 2(163–194), 105.
Harahap, L. M., Sitanggang, C. B., Tambunan, D. M., Pinem, D. A., & Hasugian, A. B. (2025). Pengaruh Perubahan Iklim Terhadap Strategi Manajemen Agribisnis: Studi Kasus Di Wilayah Pertanian Indonesia (the Effect of Climate Change on Agribusiness Management Strategies: a Case Study in Indonesian Agriculture). Jurnal Ilmiah Ekonomi Dan Manajemen, 3(3), 451–462.
Jatav, S. S. (2024). Farmers’ perception of climate change and livelihood vulnerability: a comparative study of Bundelkhand and Central regions of Uttar Pradesh, India. Discover Sustainability, 5(1), 11–27.
Kumar, A., & Pathak, K. (2025). Assessing Socio-economic Determinants of Farmers’ Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change: An Empirical Study from Gaya District, Bihar, India. Asian Journal of Advances in Agricultural Research, 25(10), 91–99.
Kumar, P., Sarda, R., Yadav, A., Ashwani, Gonencgil, B., & Rai, A. (2025). Farmer’s perception of climate change and factors determining the adaptation strategies to ensure sustainable agriculture in the cold desert region of Himachal Himalayas, India. Sustainability, 17(6), 2548.
Mensah, I. V, Twene, S. K., & Adjei, E. K. (2022). Farmers’ perceptions on the impacts of climate change (CC) on crops output. Universal Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2(3), 119–132.
Nabahungu, N. L., & Visser, S. M. (2013). Farmers’knowledge And Perception Of Agricultural Wetland Management In Rwanda. Land Degradation & Development, 24(4), 363–374.
Novianti, K., Warsilah, H., & Wahyono, D. A. (2016). Perubahan Iklim dan Ketahanan Pangan Masyarakat Pesisir Climate Change and Food Security on Coastal Community. Jurnal PKS, 15(3), 203–218.
Odum, E. P. (1983). Basic Ecology: Fundamentals of Ecology, Saunders College Pub. Philadelphia.
Rindiani, R., Sitorus, R., & Astuti, R. P. (2023). Tingkat Persepsi Petani Padi Sawah terhadap Perubahan Iklim di Desa Banyuasin Kecamatan Riau Silip. Jurnal Agribisnis, 25(1), 97–108.
Saad, H., Bempah, I., & Arsyad, K. (2024). Adaptasi Dampak Perubahan Iklim Melalui Adopsi Pertanian Berkelanjutan. Jurnal Penyuluhan Pertanian, 19(1), 1–11.
Salampessy, Y. L. A., Lubis, D. P., Amien, L. I., & Suhardjito, D. (2018). Menakar kapasitas adaptasi perubahan iklim petani padi sawah (kasus Kabupaten Pasuruan Jawa Timur). Jurnal Ilmu Lingkungan, 16(1), 25–34.
Sihotang, J. M., & Tapi, T. (2025). Dampak perubahan iklim terhadap usaha tani padi: Studi adaptasi petani Kampung Prafi Mulya, Distrik Prafi, Kabupaten Manokwari. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture Extension, 3(2), 107–119.
Slovic, P. (1988). Risk perception. In Carcinogen risk assessment (pp. 171–181). Springer.
Teklay, A., Ayalew, A., Abate, A., Ashenafi, M., Marye, A. T., Tilahun, A., Bayabil, H. K., Kassa, A., Birara, H., & Gurebiyaw, K. (2025). Climate change perceptions and adaptation responses among smallholder farmers across three locations in Megech Watershed, Ethiopia. Climate Services, 38, 100566.
Wolff, N. H., Masuda, Y. J., Meijaard, E., Wells, J. A., & Game, E. T. (2018). Impacts of tropical deforestation on local temperature and human well-being perceptions. Global Environmental Change, 52, 181–189.
