Análise da percepção dos produtores rurais sobre mudanças climáticas

Abstract

It is estimated that by the year 2050 the world will have approximately 9.6 billion people. To serve the entire world population, it will be necessary to increase food production by 70%. However, increasing food production is a challenge, as climate change has the potential to negatively impact rural production in many regions. In fact, research has pointed to the decrease in rural production due to climate change. To mitigate the negative impacts of climate change, it is important that farmers adopt sustainable agricultural practices. However, farmers are more likely to adopt such practices if they perceive the effect of climate change. Therefore, the general objective of this study was to analyze the perception of rural producers about climate change. The research sample consisted of 195 respondents from the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul. Data collection was performed using digital questionnaires and printed questionnaires. Data analysis was performed by descriptive statistics, Factor Analysis and Cluster Analysis. The results of descriptive statistics showed that the majority of farmers have the perception that climate change is an important global issue and that it is happening through human action, but do not consider it to be the main causes of climate change. In addition, farmers have the perception that the government has a duty to financially support farmers in adapting to climate change, and that as a farmer they have an obligation to maintain or improve the environment for future generations. Factor analysis of farmers' perceptions of climate change resulted in the identification of four factors, which were named: Awareness, given the perception of awareness of farmers about the negative effects of climate change on rural production; environmental responsibility, because, according to the perception of rural producers, they want to continue producing, but seeking to produce in a sustainable way and preserving the environment; o Productivism, due to the perception of farmers increase rural production and obtain economic gain; anthropocentrism, based on the perception of the interests of rural producers. Finally, based on factor analysis scores , the result of cluster analysis resulted in four typologies of rural producers, who were named as: the Environmentalist, who presented a high sense of environmental responsibility and awareness of the effects of climate change on rural production and low sense of productivism; the Commercial Ecologist who showed high sense to productivism and awareness of the effects of climate change on rural production and low sense anthropocentrism and environmental responsibility; the Anthropocentric, who presented as main characteristic the high sense to anthropocentrism; and the Productivist who showed high sense of productivism and a low sense of awareness of the effects of climate change on rural production.