Abstract
Nature-related risks are increasingly recognized as critical threats to agricultural production and sustainability, particularly for smallholder farmers who are directly exposed to environmental change. This study provides an empirical assessment of risk perception among tea smallholders in northern Vietnam, integrating nature-related risk concepts with Protection Motivation Theory. Data were collected from structured social surveys with 312 households, focusing on observed and experienced changes in ecosystem services, future risk expectations, and drivers of perception. Results reveal that farmers identified soil degradation, water scarcity, climate variability, and pest pressures as key risks affecting tea yields and quality. Regression models show that perceptions were significantly influenced by risk experiences, adaptation practices, socioeconomic variables, and information flows. For example, high fertilizer inputs heightened awareness of soil degradation, while investment in irrigation systems reduced perceived vulnerability to extreme weather events. Access to training courses enhanced risk awareness and shaped adaptation decisions. Although farmers’ perceptions diverge from objective, modelled risk assessments, they play a decisive role in adaptation intentions and practices. The findings demonstrate the value of combining empirical social data with environmental risk frameworks to better capture smallholder vulnerabilities and guide targeted adaptation interventions. Insights from this study have broader implications for managing risks in other smallholder-dependent value chains, including cocoa and coffee.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
NATURE-RELATED RISKS, ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, CLIMATE CHANGE, RISK PERCEPTION, SMALLHOLDER FARMERS
