Research in eight countries: farmers clearly feel the consequences of climate change

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71 percent of respondents say climate change is already having a major impact on their activities, Bayer announced on Thursday. In addition, many farmers face enormous economic challenges.

For the research, the Bayer Group, which is active in the seed and crop protection products industry, conducted interviews with 800 farmers in a total of eight countries. According to Bayer, the survey included large and small companies, in equal proportions from Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Kenya, Ukraine and the US.

The farmers surveyed estimate that their income has fallen by an average of 15.7 percent over the past two years due to climate change. One in six of them even reported a loss of income of more than 25 percent during this period.

Worries about the future

According to the survey, farmers also believe they will continue to feel the effects of climate change in the future, with three-quarters (76 percent) of respondents concerned about the impact on their farms, with these concerns highest in Kenya and India to excel.

Climate change is “already part of the daily lives of farmers around the world,” explains Bayer board member Rodrigo Santos, head of the company’s crop science division. “The study results highlight the immediate threat of climate change to global food security,” he added. “At the same time, it is crucial for farmers to fight it and safeguard food supplies, even under difficult conditions.”

Reducing emissions

According to the survey, more than 80 percent of respondents have already taken or planned measures that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to Bayer, the first priority is the use of catch crops, followed by the use of renewable energy sources and the use of “innovative seeds to reduce the application of fertilizers or pesticides.”

Furthermore, “all farmers surveyed without exception stated that they were already implementing or planning measures that would reduce the negative impact on biodiversity,” Bayer said. This includes initiatives to protect insects.

Higher costs

However, many agricultural companies are under pressure due to increased costs. For more than half (55 percent) of respondents, the cost of fertilizer is among the three biggest challenges, followed by energy costs (47 percent), price and income fluctuations (37 percent) and crop protection costs (36 percent). The higher costs of fertilizer are most clearly seen as a challenge in Kenya, India and Ukraine.

(AFP)

Source: Blick