The Perception about Climatic Variations and Changes, and the Adaptation Strategies of the Family Farmers from Serido, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Abstract

The occurrence of climate change can increase the scarcity of natural resources on the semiarid regions of the planet, harming the agricultural populations who depend on its quality. The Serido in Rio Grande do Norte is a region where the farmers already face the difficulties of agricultural production generated by the characteristics of the semiarid climate, like the occurrence of periodic droughts and floods. For this vulnerable rural population, the need to adapt to climate changes is another major challenge. In this regard, the present study investigates the farmers’ perceptions about climate variations and changes, and their strategies for dealing with the semiarid climate. The study was conducted at 29 communities in four counties of the potiguar’s Seridó through interviews with local actors and the application of questionnaires to 241 farmers. Farmers’ perceptions on climate variability are very diffuse, but they claim that the changes can be observed mainly by the change of rainy and dry seasons, as well as the intensification of these events. Although the region constitutes one of desertification nucleus identified by the Ministry of Environment of Brazil (2004), in general the strategies developed for coping with the semiarid are very few, which creates a condition of vulnerability that may be worsened in a situation of climate change. The lack of technical and financial resources are identified as factors limiting the adoption of adaptation strategies. Therefore, it is necessary to promote and stimulate the strategies of coexistence with the semiarid and adaptation to climate change in the region of Serido.