Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Adaptation towards climate change impacts among highland farmers in Malaysia

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aims to gain more understanding on highland farmers’ adaptation towards the impacts of climate change in Malaysia. Via a multi-stage cluster sampling, this quantitative study has surveyed a total of 400 highland farmers as respondents. The results indicated that the highest climate change-resilient farmers were from Kundasang, specifically among the females, Dusun ethnic group, and those who work side jobs to cover household expenses. Furthermore, recorded factors such as age and years of experience yielded significant negative relationship with adaptation whereas income yielded significant positive relationship with adaptation. The paper concludes with recommendations related to occupational diversification, consistent information disseminations, access to financial assistance, and the need to empower extension officers and local leaders in the hope that a comprehensive approach can help implement any community climate change-adaptation plan.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abu Samah A, Shaffril HAM, Fadzil MF (2019a) Comparing adaptation ability towards climate change impacts between the youth and the older fishermen. Sci Total Environ 681:524–532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abu Samah A, Shaffril HAM, Hamzah A, Abu Samah B (2019b) Factors affecting small-scale fishermen’s adaptation toward the impacts of climate change: reflections from Malaysian fishers. SAGE Open 9(3):215824401986420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ado AM, Savadogo P, Abdoul-Azize HT (2019) Livelihood strategies and household resilience to food insecurity: insight from a farming community in Aguie district of Niger. Agric Hum Values 36(4):747–761

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad Faiz AN, Khairuddin I, Jegak U, Hayrol Azril MS, Jeffrey LS (2010) Aquaculture industry potential and issues: a case from cage culture system entrepreneurs: suggestions for intensification of aquaculture industry. J Soc Sci 6(2):206–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad N, Shaffril HAM, Abu Samah A, Idris K, Abu Samah B, Hamdan ME (2020) The adaptation towards climate change impacts among islanders in Malaysia. Sci Total Environ 699:134404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asfaw A, Simane B, Bantider A, Hassen A (2019) Determinants in the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies: evidence from rainfed-dependent smallholder farmers in north-central Ethiopia (Woleka sub-basin). Environ Dev Sustain 21(5):2535–2565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Badjeck M-C, Allison EH, Ashley SH, s (2010) Impacts of climate variability and change on fishery-based livelihood. Mar Policy 3:375–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bagheri M, Zaiton Ibrahim Z, Bin Mansor S, Abdul Manaf L, Badarulzaman N, Vaghefi N (2019) Shoreline change analysis and erosion prediction using historical data of Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. Environ Earth Sci 78(15):477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balasbaneh AT, Bin Marsono AK (2017) Strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from residential sector by proposing new building structures in hot and humid climatic conditions. Build Environ 124:357–368

  • Berita Harian (2016). El Nino punca Cameron Highland kian panas. Retrieved from https://www.beritaharian.sg/dunia/el-nino-punca-cameron-highlands-kian-panas

  • Berita Harian (2018). Tiga maut tanah runtuh. Retrieved from: https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/kes/2018/10/486028/3-maut-tanah-runtuh

  • Bin Marsono AK, Balasbaneh AT (2015) Combinations of building construction material for residential building for the global warming mitigation for Malaysia. Constr Build Mater 85:100–108

  • Choobchain S, Momtaz AM, Farhadian H (2019) Gender differences of farmers in conflict with climate change. Int J Sci Technol Res 8(7):359–363

    Google Scholar 

  • Coulthard S (2008) Adapting to environmental change in artisanal fisheries—Insights from a South Indian Lagoon. Global Environ Chang 18(3):479–489

  • Dembele YM, Akinbile LA, Aminu OO (2019) Adaptation strategies to climate change among cereal crop farmers in Kita, Kayes Region of Mali. J Agric Ext 23(3):107–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Din AHM, Zulkifli NA, Hamden MH, Aris WAW (2019) Sea level trend over Malaysian seas from multi-mission satellite altimetry and vertical land motion corrected tidal data. Adv Space Res 63(11):3452–3472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Silva JL, Samah BA, Shaffril HAM, Azman A (2012).Causative factors on the dynamics of economic viability on acceptance of sustainable agriculture practices among Malaysian contract farmers. J Food Agric Environ 3–4:621–625

  • Dumenu WK, Obeng EA (2016) Climate change and rural communities in Ghana: social vulnerability, impacts, adaptations and policy implications. Environ Sci Policy 55:208–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ehsan S, Ara Begum R, Ghani Md Nor N, Nizam Abdul Maulud K (2019) Current and potential impacts of sea level rise in the coastal areas of Malaysia. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 228(1):012023

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Filho WL, Balogun A-L, Olayide OE, Azeiteiro UM, Ayal DY, Muñoz PDC, Nagy GJ, Bynoe P, Oguge O, Yannick Toamukum N, Saroar M, Li C (2019) Assessing the impacts of climate change in cities and their adaptive capacity: towards transformative approaches to climate change adaptation and poverty reduction in urban areas in a set of developing countries. Sci Total Environ 692:1175–1190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamdan ME, Man N, Yassin S, D’Silva JL, Shaffril HAM (2014) Farmers’ sensitivity towards changing climate in Cameron Highland. Agric J 9(2):120–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassan MS, Yassin SM, Shaffril HAM, Othman MS, Abu Samah B, Abu Samah A, Ramli SA (2011) Receiving agriculture information through mass media and interpersonal sources among the rural community. Am J Agric Biol Sci 6(3):451–461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herath G, Hasanov A, Park J (2020) Impact of climate change on paddy production in Malaysia: empirical analysis at the national and state level experience. Adv Intell Syst Comput 1001:656–664

    Google Scholar 

  • Hussain M, Butt AR, Uzma F, Ahmed R, Rehman A, Ubaid Ali M, Ullah H, Yousaf B (2019) Divisional disparities on climate change adaptation and mitigation in Punjab, Pakistan: local perceptions, vulnerabilities, and policy implications. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26:31491–31507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ilias ISC, Jemain AA (2018) Regional frequency analysis with L-Moments of extremes rainfall in Peninsular Malaysia. AIP Conf Proc 1974:040018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ismail AI, Ahmad S, Hashim NM, Jani YM (2011) Kesan penyahhutanan ke atas pola suhu dan kelembapan bandingan di Cameron Highlands, Malaysia: Satu analisis awal. Malaysia Journal of Society and Space 7(3):56–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Kajikawa Y, Yasunari T, Yoshida S, Fujinami H (2012) Advanced Asian summer monsoon onset in recent decades. Geographical Research Letters 39(3). https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL050540/full

  • Khanal U, Wilson C (2019) Derivation of a climate change adaptation index and assessing determinants and barriers to adaptation among farming households in Nepal. Environ Sci Policy 101:156–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khoza S, Van Niekerk D, Nemakonde LD (2019) Understanding gender dimensions of climate-smart agriculture adoption in disaster-prone smallholder farming communities in Malawi and Zambia. Disaster Prev Manag 28(5):530–547

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwan MS, Tanggang FT, Liew J (2013) Projected changes of future climate extremes in Malaysia. Sains Malaysiana 42(8):1051–1059

  • Man N, Shehu NI, Kamarulzaman NH, Sulaiman Z (2019) The influence of attitude , social norms on adaptation practices of oil palm smallholders and mediation role of intention towards climate change impact in Malaysia. IJSTR 8(9):1821–1825

  • Masud MM, Mohammad Nurul A, Muhammad M, Hasanul B, Rulia A, Ferdous A, Halima B, (2017) Adaptation barriers and strategies towards climate change: Challenges in the agricultural sector. J Clean Prod 156:698–706

  • Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia (2010) National policy on climate change. Putrajaya

  • Mohammad Najib AG (1999) Penyelidikan pendidikan Skudai, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Publisher

  • Mstar (2015) Sektor Pertanian Rugi RM299 Juta Akibat Banjir. Retrieved from: https://www.mstar.com.my/lokal/semasa/2015/02/17/pertanian-rugi-akibat-banjir

  • Mugi-Ngenga EW, Mucheru-Muna M, Mugwe JN, Mugendi D (2016) Household’s socio-economic factors influencing the level of adaptation to climate variability in the dry zones of Eastern Kenya. J Rural Stud 43:49–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mutandwa E, Hanyani-Mlambo B, Manzvera J (2019) Exploring the link between climate change perceptions and adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers in Chimanimani district of Zimbabwe. Int J Soc Econ 46(7):850–860

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muzathik AM, Wan Nik WB, Samo KB, Ibrahim MZ (2011) Ocean waves measurement and wave climate prediction of Peninsular Malaysia. J Phys Sci 22:77–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Nashwan MS, Ismail T, Ahmed K (2019) Non-stationary analysis of extreme rainfall in Peninsular Malaysia. J Sustain Sci Manag 14(3):17–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Pour SH, Wahab AKA, Shahid S (2020) Physical-empirical models for prediction of seasonal rainfall extremes of Peninsular Malaysia. Atmos Res 233:104720

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadiq MA, Kuwornu JKM, Al-Hassan RM, Alhassan SI (2019) Assessing maize farmers’ adaptation strategies to climate change and variability in Ghana. Agriculture 9(5):90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaffril HAM, D’Silva JL, Kamaruddin N, Omar SZ, Bolong J (2015) The coastal community awareness towards the climate change in Malaysia. Int J Clim Change Strategies Manag 7(4):516–533

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaffril HAM, Hamzah A, D’Dilva JL, Abu Samah B, Abu Samah A (2016) Individual adaptive capacity of small scale fishermen living in vulnerable areas towards the climate change in Malaysia. Clim Dev. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2016.1145100?journalCode=tcld20

  • Shaffril HAM, Abu Samah A, Samsuddin SF, Ali Z (2019) Mirror-mirror on the wall, what climate change adaptation strategies are practiced by the Asian's fishermen of all?. J Clean Prod 232:104–117

  • Soglo YY, Nonvide GMA (2019) Climate change perceptions and responsive strategies Clim Chang in Benin: the case of maize farmers. 155(2):245–256

  • Tanggang FT, Juneng L, Salimun E, Kwan MS, Le LJ, Muhamad H (2012) Climate change and variability over Malaysia: Gaps in science and research information. Sains Malaysiana 41(11):1355–1366

  • Utusan Borneo (2013) DR Rem pakar klimotologi yang menulis puisi. https://eprints.ums.edu.my/5776/1/nc0000002730.pdf

  • Utusan Malaysia (2016) Banjir Berulang di Cameron Highland. Retrieved on 27 September 2016, from: http://www.utusan.com.my/berita/nahas-bencana/banjir-berulang-di-cameron-highlands-1.336487

  • Vaghefi N, Mad Nasir S, Alias R, Khalid AR (2015) Impact of climate change on food security in Malaysia: economic and policy adjustments for rice industry. J Integr Environ Sci 13(1):19–35

  • van Gevelt T, Abok H, Bennett MM, Fam SD, George F, Kulathuramaiyer N, Low CT, Zaman T (2019) Indigenous perceptions of climate anomalies in Malaysian Borneo. Glob Environ Chang 58:101974

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wan J, Song X, Su Y, Peng L, Khatiwada SP, Zhou Y, Deng W (2019) Water resource utilization and livelihood adaptations under the background of climate change: a case study of rural households in the Koshi River Basin. Sustainability (Switzerland) 11(18):5064

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wrigley-Asante C, Owusu K, Egyir IS, Owiyo TM (2019) Gender dimensions of climate change adaptation practices: the experiences of smallholder crop farmers in the transition zone of Ghana. African Geographical Review 38(2):126–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ylipaa J, Gabrielsson S, Jerneck A (2019) Climate change adaptation and gender inequality: insights from Rural Vietnam. Sustainability (Switzerland) 11(10):2805

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zen IS, Al-Amin AQ, Doberstein B (2019) Mainstreaming climate adaptation and mitigation policy: towards multi-level climate governance in Melaka, Malaysia. Urban Clim 30:100501

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The researchers would like to express a deepest gratitude towards Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia for funding the present study (05-01-15-1755FR).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hayrol Azril Mohamed Shaffril.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Philippe Garrigues

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shaffril, H.A.M., Idris, K., Sahharon, H. et al. Adaptation towards climate change impacts among highland farmers in Malaysia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 25209–25219 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08987-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08987-8

Keywords

Navigation