ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Determinants of Farmers’ Risk Perceptions
of Hailstorms in Northern Bangladesh: Is Adaptive
Capacity the Major Concern?
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Laboratory of Sustainable Rural Development, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies,
Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
Submission date: 2020-11-04
Final revision date: 2021-02-15
Acceptance date: 2021-04-10
Online publication date: 2021-10-20
Publication date: 2021-12-23
Corresponding author
Md Lamiur Raihan
Laboratory of Sustainable Rural Development, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa Oiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, 606-8502, Kyoto, Japan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(1):257-270
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ABSTRACT
Extreme weather events (EWEs) such as hailstorms are an increasing threat to agriculture worldwide.
To develop successful and efficient hailstorm risk management policies, it is important to understand
the composition of farmers’ hailstorm risk perceptions. This study aims to identify the determinants
of these risk perceptions. This is done by collecting pertinent information on the perceptions of risk,
farm traits, adaptive capacity, and various other personal characteristics from farmers’ households in
hailstorm-oriented areas of northern Bangladesh. By analyzing the explanatory power of various risk
factors using the binary logistic regression model, this study reveals that the hailstorm risk perceptions
of farmers are embodied by subjective risk factors, such as their perceived control of hailstorm risk,
and their personal circumstances. Their perceived resources for tackling hailstorm risk are the most
significant predictor variable of hailstorm risk perceptions. Marginal and smallholder farmers are very
vulnerable and perceive more risk than is the case with the medium-holder and large-holder farmers,
owing to the lack of a compensation policy after the occurrence of hailstorms. The relevant authorities
should pay urgent attention to managing hailstorm risks by developing adequate adaptive capacity
among farmers in northern Bangladesh.