Psychological capital and climate change adaptation: Empirical evidence from smallholder farmers in South Africa
There are calls for better empirical models to inform climate change adaptation in smallholder agriculture. Hitherto adaptation studies have failed to comprehensively integrate non-cognitive behavioural factors (e.g. psychological capital), and there is also no common framework for measuring non-cog...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Jàmbá |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jamba.org.za/index.php/jamba/article/view/1061 |
| _version_ | 1811330534478970880 |
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| author | Unity Chipfupa Aluwani Tagwi Edilegnaw Wale |
| author_facet | Unity Chipfupa Aluwani Tagwi Edilegnaw Wale |
| author_sort | Unity Chipfupa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There are calls for better empirical models to inform climate change adaptation in smallholder agriculture. Hitherto adaptation studies have failed to comprehensively integrate non-cognitive behavioural factors (e.g. psychological capital), and there is also no common framework for measuring non-cognitive abilities of smallholder farmers. Hence, this study is the first attempt to assess how psychological capital affects climate change adaptation amongst smallholder farmers. The study estimated the multivariate probit regression model using data collected from 328 smallholder farmers in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. The results show an association between some psychological capital indicators and smallholder adaptation decisions. Social networks, having multiple farming objectives, access to credit and the type of farmer (irrigators vs. non-irrigators) were also significant in determining smallholders’ adaptation decisions. In conclusion, the study recommends the need for practical ways for enhancing smallholders’ endowment with key non-cognitive abilities. There is also a need for researchers to develop a comprehensive framework for assessing non-cognitive factors critical for climate change adaptation. This will improve the use of positive psychology theories to advance the literature on climate change adaptation. Support should also be provided to communities facing higher risks of climate change adaptation. More focus should also be given to improve smallholder farmers’ ability to adapt, including access to affordable credit. The role of social networks in information sharing remains critical, and hence their promotion should be prioritised. The findings on multiple objectives in farming were unique to climate change adaptation research, and hence the indicator should be considered in future similar studies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:04:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-84f9f607e00542e7810c687e92f3e029 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-845X 1996-1421 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:04:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Jàmbá |
| spelling | doaj.art-84f9f607e00542e7810c687e92f3e0292022-12-22T02:40:26ZengAOSISJàmbá2072-845X1996-14212021-06-01131e1e1210.4102/jamba.v13i1.1061355Psychological capital and climate change adaptation: Empirical evidence from smallholder farmers in South AfricaUnity Chipfupa0Aluwani Tagwi1Edilegnaw Wale2Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of South Africa, JohannesburgDepartment of Agriculture and Animal Health, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of South Africa, JohannesburgDepartment of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinThere are calls for better empirical models to inform climate change adaptation in smallholder agriculture. Hitherto adaptation studies have failed to comprehensively integrate non-cognitive behavioural factors (e.g. psychological capital), and there is also no common framework for measuring non-cognitive abilities of smallholder farmers. Hence, this study is the first attempt to assess how psychological capital affects climate change adaptation amongst smallholder farmers. The study estimated the multivariate probit regression model using data collected from 328 smallholder farmers in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. The results show an association between some psychological capital indicators and smallholder adaptation decisions. Social networks, having multiple farming objectives, access to credit and the type of farmer (irrigators vs. non-irrigators) were also significant in determining smallholders’ adaptation decisions. In conclusion, the study recommends the need for practical ways for enhancing smallholders’ endowment with key non-cognitive abilities. There is also a need for researchers to develop a comprehensive framework for assessing non-cognitive factors critical for climate change adaptation. This will improve the use of positive psychology theories to advance the literature on climate change adaptation. Support should also be provided to communities facing higher risks of climate change adaptation. More focus should also be given to improve smallholder farmers’ ability to adapt, including access to affordable credit. The role of social networks in information sharing remains critical, and hence their promotion should be prioritised. The findings on multiple objectives in farming were unique to climate change adaptation research, and hence the indicator should be considered in future similar studies.https://jamba.org.za/index.php/jamba/article/view/1061psychological capitalsmallholder farmersclimate changeadaptationnon-cognitive factorsadaptive capacitymultivariate probit. |
| spellingShingle | Unity Chipfupa Aluwani Tagwi Edilegnaw Wale Psychological capital and climate change adaptation: Empirical evidence from smallholder farmers in South Africa Jàmbá psychological capital smallholder farmers climate change adaptation non-cognitive factors adaptive capacity multivariate probit. |
| title | Psychological capital and climate change adaptation: Empirical evidence from smallholder farmers in South Africa |
| title_full | Psychological capital and climate change adaptation: Empirical evidence from smallholder farmers in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Psychological capital and climate change adaptation: Empirical evidence from smallholder farmers in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychological capital and climate change adaptation: Empirical evidence from smallholder farmers in South Africa |
| title_short | Psychological capital and climate change adaptation: Empirical evidence from smallholder farmers in South Africa |
| title_sort | psychological capital and climate change adaptation empirical evidence from smallholder farmers in south africa |
| topic | psychological capital smallholder farmers climate change adaptation non-cognitive factors adaptive capacity multivariate probit. |
| url | https://jamba.org.za/index.php/jamba/article/view/1061 |
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