Assessment of impacts of adaptation measures on rice farm economic performance in response to climate change: Case study in Vietnam

Climate change impacts, including rising temperatures, erratic changes in the frequency and quantity of rainfall, and the prevalence of extreme weather phenomena, pose threats to rice cultivation. The primary objective of this study is to conduct an economic assessment of the effect of adaptation strategies on the agricultural performance of rice farmers. A total of 260 rice farmers from Nong Cong district were selected as the sample for the study. Collected data were analyzed using propensity scores matching (PSM) and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique, using Tukey's method. PSM was utilized to compare farmers who adapted and those who did not, while the ANOVA test was applied to examine disparities in the impacts, resulting from the use of various adaptive measures. The study's findings demonstrated that changing rice varieties led to the most substantial increment in profitability (a 73% surge in profits) while adjusting the seasonal timetable was the least costly measure. Among the plausible combinations of adaptive measures, farmers achieved the highest additional yield by utilizing increased fertilizers and pesticides (yielding a 26% increase). However, the highest increase in profitability was observed by adjusting the seasonal calendar and modifying rice varieties (yielding a 124.2% surge in profits). Significant factors influencing farmers' choice of adaptive measures include the extent of formal education, farming experience, agricultural income, participation in training programs, membership in agricultural associations, and access to 7–10-day weather forecasts. The study recommends that farmers cultivate high-yielding rice varieties resistant to extreme weather patterns. Furthermore, extension organizations are advised to intensify their efforts in conducting awareness campaigns focused on climate change, disseminating weather forecast information at the district level, and providing agricultural extension services coupled with training in advanced agricultural techniques.