PERCEPTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND FARMERS’ ADAPTATION THROUGH AGROFORESTRY: LAW, POLICY & SOCIAL ACCEPTABILITY

Abstract

Climate change has emerged as a defining challenge for agrarian societies across the globe, particularly in developing economies such as India where livelihoods depend heavily on climate-sensitive agriculture. Agroforestry—the intentional integration of trees with crops and livestock—has been recognised as a viable adaptation and mitigation strategy. This paper explores how farmers perceive climate change, how these perceptions shape adaptation through agroforestry, and how legal and policy frameworks facilitate or constrain this process. Drawing upon sociological perspectives of environmental perception, as well as legal and institutional analyses, the paper argues that the social acceptability of agroforestry depends not only on ecological benefits but also on cultural meanings, land tenure systems, and state policy structures. The study concludes that adaptive governance, participatory extension, and equitable policy design are essential to strengthen farmers’ agency in climate-resilient agroforestry