1. Introduction
Climate change poses numerous risks and challenges to farmers as they are heavily dependent on stable weather patterns and predictable seasons for their livelihoods. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and frequent or severe extreme weather events can have a significant impact on crop yields, leading to food shortages and increased prices for consumers [
1]. Notably extreme heat and droughts have led to substantial reductions in global cereal production, causing losses of 9–10% [
2]. In India, rising temperatures have resulted in a 5.2% decrease in wheat yields [
3], while in parts of Europe, wheat and barley yields have collectively declined by 2.5–3.8%, with some southern regions experiencing declines exceeding 5% [
4]. Additionally, pests and diseases are becoming more prevalent as the climate changes, further impacting crop yields [
5]. Climate change also causes changes in the distribution of certain crops, as traditional growing areas become less suitable and new areas become more viable for cultivation [
6]. These changes can be particularly challenging for small-scale and subsistence farmers, who may not have the resources to adapt to the changing conditions. While studies have shown that the public awareness of climate change risks has increased in recent years (by about 19%) [
7], farmers’ risk perceptions are in urgent need of improvement [
8]. The risks and challenges to farmers caused by climate change highlight the need for effective adaptation strategies to support them in the face of these challenges.
Climate change poses a significant threat to the agricultural sector and to the livelihoods of farmers worldwide. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in its report, describes the various risks that climate change poses to farmers, including changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and sea level rise [
9]. These changes can lead to crop failures [
10], soil erosion [
11], and other negative impacts on agricultural production. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) also recognizes the impact of climate change on agriculture and food security [
11], and is working to support countries in both mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change through research-based and practical programs and projects, as a part of the 2030 agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals [
10]. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activity and livestock are a significant driver of climate change, trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and triggering global warming [
11]. The IPCC’s report also highlights the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to mitigate these risks, and the need for adaptation strategies to help farmers adapt to the changing climate [
10].
The current academic research on climate change risks to farmers (CCRF) is mainly focused on five key areas: (1) crop yields, (2) soil health, (3) water availability, (4) coastal agriculture, and (5) socio-economic impact. Studies are being conducted to understand how changes in temperature and precipitation patterns [
6,
12], as well as the increased frequency of extreme weather events, will impact crop yields [
13]. Researchers are also looking at how different crop varieties and farming practices may be able to adapt to these changes [
14]. Arunrat in Thailand predicted rice yield declines under SSP585 but suggested alternatives such as maize and soybean [
15]. Qiao found that high-quality soils in China increased crop yield by 10.3% and improved yield stability by 15.6% while reducing the impact of climate change on the yield [
16]. Climate change can impact soil health through changes in temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events, changes in soil temperature and moisture can impact soil microorganisms [
17], nutrient cycling [
18], and erosion [
19], and these changes can affect crop growth and productivity [
20]. Changes in precipitation patterns and the increased frequency of extreme weather events can lead to changes in water availability for irrigation and other agricultural uses [
21]. Sea level rise and coastal erosion can lead to a loss of coastal cropland and habitats that support fish and other seafood [
22], as well as a loss of infrastructure and increased flooding [
23]. Climate change impacts on agriculture also have a significant impact on the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities [
24]. Research is being conducted to understand how these changes affect the economic and social well-being of farmers and rural communities, and to identify potential strategies for addressing these impacts.
Thus, given that climate change has been a topic of lively human discussion, a number of academic papers have also examined farmers’ perceptions of climate change and how they are affected by it. Climate change has led to significant impacts on agriculture and food security, with farmers facing a range of risks that are diverse and uncertain [
25]. Studies have shown that changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, the increased frequency of extreme weather events, and sea level rise can have negative effects on crop yields, soil health, and water availability [
26,
27,
28]. Coastal areas are also expected to be affected by sea level rise and coastal erosion, leading to a loss of coastal cropland [
29]. These impacts demonstrate the unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of climate change and make the risks to farmers more diverse and uncertain. Adaptation strategies and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are crucial in addressing these risks [
11]. So, many studies have extensively discussed this exciting and interesting topic, and the body of research continues to grow rapidly with an increasing number of published papers.
There is significant value in studying the characteristics and state of the research on farmers’ risk perceptions and adaptation to climate change through a bibliometric approach. Bibliometrics, a statistical method to analyze the impact of research results in the literature, has the advantage of extracting valuable information from vast literature data, identifying the basics of the field, and providing an initial understanding of research priorities, past history, and research trends in the field [
30,
31], and can be visualized through various means such as co-linear network diagrams, word clouds, and thematic evolution diagrams.
Therefore, the aim of this paper was to examine studies regarding climate change risk faced by farmers (CCRF) through the utilization of bibliometric and visual analysis methods. Our methodology began with conducting a systematic search of the relevant literature on CCRF using the Web of Science (WOS) database. Subsequently, we employed the Bibliometrix package to analyze the bibliographic information and distribution of research power. In addition, we employed unique features of the package to perform a theme evolution analysis. This study offers several contributions to the existing literature. Firstly, it marks the first attempt at utilizing the Citespace software for a visual analysis of the CCRF research literature. Our bibliometric analysis provides novel insights that have not been thoroughly explored in previous studies, thereby augmenting the body of knowledge in the field of CCRF. Secondly, this study presents a comprehensive overview of the prior research on CCRF since 2006, thereby aiding in the understanding of the development of CCRF research for those interested. Lastly, our findings on research hotspots, evolutionary processes, and emerging trends in the field of CCRF will assist future scholars in identifying research directions and questions.
4. Discussion
The summary of the research on climate change risks faced by farmers in this paper reveals several important findings. First, there is growing academic interest in the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to climate change, with a particular focus on understanding the role of farmers in managing the associated risks. This research is driven primarily by the need to understand how climate change affects farmers and how they respond to these challenges.
Notably, highly cited publications by Thomas [
37] and Abid [
38] have significantly contributed to this field, with their work focusing on understanding farmers’ perceptions of climate change risks and their adaptation strategies. This research indicates that farmers are indeed aware of climate change and are making adjustments to their farming practices in response. These adjustments include altering crop varieties, changing planting dates, introducing shade trees, and modifying fertilizers. As emphasized in the study by Mandi [
67], climate change remains a substantial impediment. Particularly, those in resource-constrained settings often grapple with inadequate access to climate information services, hindering their capacity to make informed decisions about planting times, crop choices, and resource allocation. Bridging this information gap is paramount to enabling farmers to proactively respond to shifting climate patterns. In addition, the constraints posed by limited resources are a huge barrier to effective climate adaptation, as confirmed by the research of many scholars. Resource-poor farmers face enormous challenges in purchasing essential agricultural inputs [
68], accessing credit [
69], and investing in climate adaptation technologies [
70]. These resource constraints need to be addressed if farmers are to be empowered to implement sustainable adaptation strategies and increase their resilience to disasters.
Furthermore, the analysis of keywords and the thematic evolution over time sheds light on the evolution of research in the field of CCRF. Initially, research in this area was primarily centered in Africa, with a focus on policy, impacts, and related issues. However, over time, the focus shifted towards studying the impacts of climate change on farmers’ food security and adaptive capacity, with an emphasis on understanding their risk perceptions and responses. Additionally, there is an emerging interest in topics such as heavy metal pollution [
71,
72] and farmers’ perspectives [
44,
73].
Now, the current research primarily focuses on understanding the impact of climate change on farmers, their risk perceptions, and their adaptation strategies. It has evolved from basic research to a more concentrated examination of farmers’ adaptive behavior in response to climate change. This shift in focus highlights the increasing concern among researchers regarding farmers’ ability to maintain food security and adapt to climate change challenges. Future research directions may include exploring the impacts of heavy metal pollution on farmers and gaining further insights into their perspectives and strategies for coping with climate change [
74]. Additionally, research in this field may continue to investigate the barriers hindering the widespread adoption of adaptation strategies by farmers [
75]. It is worth noting that a critical aspect of farmers’ health, in the context of rising temperatures due to climate change, remains an area in need of substantial research attention. Factors such as heat-related illnesses [
76,
77] and reduced labor capacity [
78] due to extreme heat can all have significant repercussions for farmers, their families, and their communities. The impact of prolonged exposure to high temperatures on farmers’ health [
79] is a risk that deserves further exploration.
5. Conclusions
Based on the analysis of the impact of climate change risks on farmers, it is clear that climate change poses a significant threat to farmers and their livelihoods. The studies reviewed showed that farmers are exposed to various types of climate change risks, including the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, changes in precipitation patterns, and increased temperature variability. These climate change risks can have negative impacts on crop yields, soil fertility, and water availability, which can in turn result in decreased food security and increased poverty levels.
The findings of the studies reviewed also showed that farmers have adopted various adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change risks. These strategies include changes in cropping patterns, the use of drought-resistant crops, and the adoption of water-saving technologies. However, the effectiveness of these strategies is limited by various factors, including the availability of financial resources, access to information and knowledge, and the absence of supportive policies.
The analysis of the content of the articles reviewed showed that there has been a growing trend in the study of farmers’ adaptive behaviors to climate change risks. The research has evolved from basic studies that focus on farmers’ perceptions and responses to climate change risks, to more sophisticated studies that explore the determinants of adaptation and the relationship between climate change risks and food security.
In conclusion, the findings of the studies reviewed highlight the need for policymakers to prioritize the development of strategies and policies that support farmers’ adaptive behaviors in response to climate change risks. This includes the provision of financial and technical resources, the creation of an enabling environment for the development of adaptive capacities, and the promotion of information sharing and knowledge building. By addressing these challenges, it is possible to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on farmers and contribute to the achievement of sustainable agriculture and food security.