MSc

The research work entitled “Role of social networks in climate smart adaptation strategies in pineapple production: An exploratory analysis” was conducted during the academic year 2022-24. The objectives of the study include Identify and document the climate smart adaptation strategies employed by pineapple farmers; extent of adoption of climate smart adaptation strategies among pineapple farmers; examine the heterogeneous effect of social networks on farmer’s adaptation to climate change; and assess the constraints faced by pineapple farmers in adopting climate smart adaptation strategies. The study was conducted in three districts of Kerala viz. Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Kollam. Ernakulam and Kottayam were selected due to their extensive areas under pineapple cultivation, making them important production hubs in the state. A total of 130 farmers were selected for the study, with 50 farmers each from Ernakulam and Kottayam, and 30 farmers from Kollam. The snowball sampling technique was employed for the study. The technique starts with a small group of initial respondents, who then refer additional respondent farmers, creating a network that reflects the pineapple farmers dynamics in the region. Through this method, the study aimed to gather insights and data from the pineapple farmers network, allowed for a comprehensive analysis of the objectives. Primary data were gathered through personal interviews with respondents, utilizing a pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule. The data on climate-smart adaptation strategies among pineapple farmers reveals a mixed level of adoption across various management practices. Ethrel application in hormonal management shows high adoption, with nearly all farmers recognizing its benefits. In water and nutrient management, water conservation practices are widely adopted, but modern and drip irrigation systems face challenges due to cost and technical issues, leading to lower adoption and some discontinuation. In crop and weed management, mulching is universally accepted, while intercropping and crop rotation have moderate adoption with barriers related to market and land limitations. Marketing management shows that distress sales are commonly used to manage financial risks, while market insurance has low adoption, indicating a need for better awareness and access. Export practices are fairly popular but face logistical and compliance challenges. Integrated pest management remains the least adopted, with no farmers using pest-resistant varieties or bio-control agents, and limited adoption of pest surveillance.
The adoption of climate-smart adaptation strategies among pineapple farmers varies, with most farmers (36.92%) at a moderate level of adoption. A smaller portion (24.62%) shows low adoption, while only 20.77% and 17.69% of farmers have high and very high adoption levels, respectively. This distribution suggests that while there is some integration of climate-smart practices, full adoption remains limited. The findings highlight potential for increased adoption, with opportunities to encourage farmers towards higher engagement in climate-smart practices to better address climate challenges.
The social network analysis of pineapple farmers in Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Kollam reveals low network density across all districts, with Kollam having the highest density at 0.093. Ernakulam and Kottayam each have 53 actors, while Kollam has 34 but maintains more active connections, indicated by 104 ties compared to Ernakulam's 165 and Kottayam's 138. Kollam has no isolates, ensuring all farmers are connected, while Ernakulam and Kottayam each have one. The average degree of connections is moderate, with Ernakulam slightly leading. Key actors in Ernakulam show high in-degree centrality, indicating a few serves as major information hubs, while out-degree centrality remains consistent across districts. Closeness centrality highlights disparities in connectivity, which may affect access to vital information for some farmers. The study was conducted in three districts of Kerala viz. Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Kollam. Ernakulam and Kottayam were selected due to their extensive areas under pineapple cultivation, making them important production hubs in the state. A total of 130 farmers were selected for the study, with 50 farmers each from Ernakulam and Kottayam, and 30 farmers from Kollam. The snowball sampling technique was employed for the study. The technique starts with a small group of initial respondents, who then refer additional respondent farmers, creating a network that reflects the pineapple farmers dynamics in the region. Through this method, the study aimed to gather insights and data from the pineapple farmers network, allowed for a comprehensive analysis of the objectives. Primary data were gathered through personal interviews with respondents, utilizing a pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule. The data on climate-smart adaptation strategies among pineapple farmers reveals a mixed level of adoption across various management practices. Ethrel application in hormonal management shows high adoption, with nearly all farmers recognizing its benefits. In water and nutrient management, water conservation practices are widely adopted, but modern and drip irrigation systems face challenges due to cost and technical issues, leading to lower adoption and some discontinuation. In crop and weed management, mulching is universally accepted, while intercropping and crop rotation have moderate adoption with barriers related to market and land limitations. Marketing management shows that distress sales are commonly used to manage financial risks, while market insurance has low adoption, indicating a need for better awareness and access. Export practices are fairly popular but face logistical and compliance challenges. Integrated pest management remains the least adopted, with no farmers using pest-resistant varieties or bio-control agents, and limited adoption of pest surveillance.
The adoption of climate-smart adaptation strategies among pineapple farmers varies, with most farmers (36.92%) at a moderate level of adoption. A smaller portion (24.62%) shows low adoption, while only 20.77% and 17.69% of farmers have high and very high adoption levels, respectively. This distribution suggests that while there is some integration of climate-smart practices, full adoption remains limited. The findings highlight potential for increased adoption, with opportunities to encourage farmers towards higher engagement in climate-smart practices to better address climate challenges.
The social network analysis of pineapple farmers in Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Kollam reveals low network density across all districts, with Kollam having the highest density at 0.093. Ernakulam and Kottayam each have 53 actors, while Kollam has 34 but maintains more active connections, indicated by 104 ties compared to Ernakulam's 165 and Kottayam's 138. Kollam has no isolates, ensuring all farmers are connected, while Ernakulam and Kottayam each have one. The average degree of connections is moderate, with Ernakulam slightly leading. Key actors in Ernakulam show high in-degree centrality, indicating a few serves as major information hubs, while out-degree centrality remains consistent across districts. Closeness centrality highlights disparities in connectivity, which may affect access to vital information for some farmers. The data on climate-smart adaptation strategies among pineapple farmers reveals a mixed level of adoption across various management practices. Ethrel application in hormonal management shows high adoption, with nearly all farmers recognizing its benefits. In water and nutrient management, water conservation practices are widely adopted, but modern and drip irrigation systems face challenges due to cost and technical issues, leading to lower adoption and some discontinuation. In crop and weed management, mulching is universally accepted, while intercropping and crop rotation have moderate adoption with barriers related to market and land limitations. Marketing management shows that distress sales are commonly used to manage financial risks, while market insurance has low adoption, indicating a need for better awareness and access. Export practices are fairly popular but face logistical and compliance challenges. Integrated pest management remains the least adopted, with no farmers using pest-resistant varieties or bio-control agents, and limited adoption of pest surveillance.
The adoption of climate-smart adaptation strategies among pineapple farmers varies, with most farmers (36.92%) at a moderate level of adoption. A smaller portion (24.62%) shows low adoption, while only 20.77% and 17.69% of farmers have high and very high adoption levels, respectively. This distribution suggests that while there is some integration of climate-smart practices, full adoption remains limited. The findings highlight potential for increased adoption, with opportunities to encourage farmers towards higher engagement in climate-smart practices to better address climate challenges.
The social network analysis of pineapple farmers in Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Kollam reveals low network density across all districts, with Kollam having the highest density at 0.093. Ernakulam and Kottayam each have 53 actors, while Kollam has 34 but maintains more active connections, indicated by 104 ties compared to Ernakulam's 165 and Kottayam's 138. Kollam has no isolates, ensuring all farmers are connected, while Ernakulam and Kottayam each have one. The average degree of connections is moderate, with Ernakulam slightly leading. Key actors in Ernakulam show high in-degree centrality, indicating a few serves as major information hubs, while out-degree centrality remains consistent across districts. Closeness centrality highlights disparities in connectivity, which may affect access to vital information for some farmers.

The data outlining key constraints faced by pineapple farmers in adopting climate-smart adaptation strategies were ranked based on their perceived severity using Garrett ranking technique. The highest-ranked constraint, with a mean score of 67.93 and a Garrett value of 82, is the impact of decreased fruit weight on market prices. This suggests that reduced yield quality directly affects farmers' income, making it their top concern. The second most significant issue is the inadequate availability of labor (mean score of 58.52), followed closely by a lack of government support (mean score of 57.95). Other major challenges include insufficient agricultural subsidies and high costs of inputs needed for adaptation, ranked fourth and fifth, respectively. Lower-ranked constraints include the lack of climate-smart technologies at the field level, inadequate credit and irrigation facilities, limited access to resources, and a lack of climate information. The latter ranks last, with a mean score of 30.44, indicating that while access to climate data is valuable, it is perceived as a less immediate barrier compared to other challenges.
This study highlights the essential role of social networks in advancing climate-smart adaptation strategies among pineapple farmers in Kerala, revealing both achievements and gaps in adoption. The analysis found moderate engagement in climate-smart practices, with significant potential for growth, especially in areas like pest management, irrigation, and marketing strategies. Social network analysis showed that well-connected farmer communities, like those in Kollam, facilitate better information exchange, enhancing adaptation capacity. Key barriers include high input costs, limited government support, and labor shortages. Recommendations to improve adoption include increasing access to climate-smart technologies, enhancing government support and subsidies, promoting cooperative marketing, and ensuring better access to climate information, thereby strengthening climate resilience and sustainability in pineapple farming