Farmers’ perception on the impact of climate change in rubber tree production and their knowledge of rubber‑based agroforestry: case study of Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Native to rainforests in the Amazon region Hevea brasiliensis is generally found in low-altitude moist forests, forest gaps, and disturbed areas providing economic, social and ecological benefits for people. But climate change is now making rubber trees vulnerable to diseases and high temperatures. In this study, Interviews and a structured questionnaire were used to determine farmers’ perception of climate change and rubber-based agroforestry. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and multinomial logit were used to analyze the data collected and identify the determining factors. The results showed that nearly all farmers in Mountain and Guinean zones cultivate rubber trees in monoculture and 80% in Sudano-Guinean zone practice monoculture. Our findings revealed that instead of the rubber tree farmers in the three climatic zones had limited knowledge of climate change and agroforestry. About 75% and 80% did not have knowledge of climate change and agroforestry, respectively. The result shows that three explanatory variables (climatic zone, gender and education level) are the factors that most influence farmers’ perception of climate change. Regarding agroforestry, it is only climatic zone and educational level that influence farmers’ perception. Farmers reported during interviews that the increase in temperature is at the root of the emergence of new diseases, which are causing a decrease in rubber tree yield. Efforts should be made to educate smallholder rubber farmers about rubber tree agroforestry and climate change, for sustainable agricultural practices in rubber three plantations.