NEW MEDIT: MEDITERRANEAN JOURNAL OF ECONOMICS, AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT, cilt.20, sa.1, ss.1, 2021 (SCI-Expanded)
Climate change is responsible for the negative effects on human life causing a decrease in agricultural products availability, biodiversity, soil fertility, and forest areas. Moreover, climate change increases plant diseases and pests, the cost of agricultural production and risk in food security. This study aims to determine whether climate change is a phenomenon via the analysis of the perceptions of the farmers regarding this issue in the Mersin province conducted through 251 questionnaires. Farmers primarily perceive climate change through production costs and the reduction in yield. Moreover, they are highly aware of its relation to natural events such as floods, drought, and storms. Nevertheless, inappropriate agricultural practices too have led to the negative consequences caused by climate change. In this respect, this study has revealed that farmers with strong cooperative partnerships and experience perceived climate change significantly.