Ethnic Minority Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Its Effects on Crop Production in Northwest Vietnam: A Case Study of H’mong Farmers in Pa Lau Commune, Tram Tau District, Yen Bai Province

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the perception of H'mong farmers in the northwest mountainous region on climate change, its impacts on crop production, and their adaptation strategies. Reports on natural disaster events and their damages for the period ranging from 2012-2021, together with meteorological data including daily temperature and precipitation for 1991-2021, were collected. Fifty households among the H’mong farmers were randomly selected from four villages of Pa Lau commune for interviews based on structured questionnaires. The results showed that most H’mong farmers know that the climate is changing. However, their perceptions of the trends of these changes in terms of rainfall, temperature, and extreme weather events were not consistent with the analysis of meteorological data. The results also revealed that this is because the farmers evaluated the changes mainly based on their observations of short-term climate changes and the associated impacts that directly affect their livelihoods. The farmers perceived that soil erosion and hot and extreme cold weather have tended to increase their impacts on the production of some major local crops. Other types of natural disasters such as droughts, floods, landslides, pests, and strong winds have tended to have more or less impacts depending on the crop type. Adaptation measures taken by farmers to mitigate the effects of climate change are mainly simple, flexible, seasonal and low-cost measures. This study provides basic information for authorities at all levels to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change.