Diyyala Reddyprasanna, Wang Qingxia Jenny, Mushtaq Shahbaz, Palanichamy N Venkatesa, Murugananthi D, Geethalakshmi V, Rajavel M
Centre for Applied Climate Sciences, University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), Toowoomba, QLD, Australia.
Agricultural and Rural Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jun 4;15(1):19550. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-99125-2.
Indian farmers have been facing significant production risks that have substantially decreased their potential yield. To reduce these risks, farmers employ various tactical strategies. The choice of strategy, however, depends mainly on their risk attitude and perceptions. This study examines the factors influencing farmers' risk attitude and perceptions based on the survey of 350 cotton farmers from Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu, India. Risk attitude is evaluated using a Multiple Price List (MPL) experimental method, while the risk matrix is utilised to measure the risk perception of drought, uneven rainfall distribution, and pests and diseases. Logit model is applied to assess the variables associated with farmers' risk attitude and perceptions. The findings reveal that 75% of the respondents exhibit risk-averse behaviour, while only 12% display a risk-seeking attitude. The majority of respondents identify drought and rainfall as major risks compared to pests and diseases. Logit model results show that gender, education, organisational membership, irrigation access, farming experience, access to credit, contact with extension personnel, and yield loss negatively influence farmers' risk attitude. Similarly, organisational membership, a higher share of non-farm income, more farm size, irrigation availability, and credit accessibility reduce the farmers' risk perceptions. These findings help policymakers understand how local farmers perceive farm risks such as drought, rainfall variations, and pests and diseases and consider these viewpoints when developing sustainable adaptation measures. This study highlights the significance of farmer group organisations, improved extension services, and credit access in shaping farmers' risk attitude and perceptions, thereby enhancing farm productivity.
印度农民一直面临着重大的生产风险，这些风险大幅降低了他们的潜在产量。为了降低这些风险，农民们采用了各种策略。然而，策略的选择主要取决于他们的风险态度和认知。本研究基于对印度泰米尔纳德邦维鲁德南加尔区350名棉农的调查，考察了影响农民风险态度和认知的因素。风险态度采用多价格列表（MPL）实验方法进行评估，而风险矩阵则用于衡量对干旱、降雨分布不均以及病虫害的风险认知。运用Logit模型来评估与农民风险态度和认知相关的变量。研究结果显示，75%的受访者表现出风险厌恶行为，而只有12%表现出风险寻求态度。与病虫害相比，大多数受访者认为干旱和降雨是主要风险。Logit模型结果表明，性别、教育程度、组织成员身份、灌溉条件、务农经验、信贷可得性、与推广人员的联系以及产量损失对农民的风险态度有负面影响。同样，组织成员身份、非农收入占比更高、农场规模更大、灌溉条件以及信贷可得性降低了农民的风险认知。这些研究结果有助于政策制定者了解当地农民如何看待干旱、降雨变化以及病虫害等农业风险，并在制定可持续适应措施时考虑这些观点。本研究强调了农民团体组织、改善推广服务以及信贷可得性在塑造农民风险态度和认知从而提高农业生产力方面的重要性。
