Farmers' perception and economic impacts of climate change during La Niña on Rice Farming in Banyuasin Regency, Indonesia

Climate change has become a major challenge to agricultural sustainability, particularly in rice farming systems that are highly dependent on climatic conditions. Among climate-related phenomena, La Niña has intensified rainfall and flooding in many regions of Indonesia, leading to production losses and reduced farm income. This study aimed to analyze farmers' perceptions of climate change and evaluate the economic impacts of La Niña on rice farming in Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra, Indonesia. A quantitative survey was conducted involving 30 rice farmers selected through simple random sampling. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaires and interviews. Farmers' perceptions were measured using a five-point Likert scale, while farm income was analyzed by comparing production costs, revenue, and net income under normal climatic conditions (2024) and during the La Niña period (2022). A paired sample t-test was employed to determine whether income differed significantly between the two climatic conditions. The results showed that farmers had a very high level of awareness regarding the causes, impacts, adaptation, and mitigation of climate change. During the La Niña period, excessive rainfall and prolonged flooding significantly reduced rice production while increasing production costs. Average farm income declined from IDR 10,389,478 to IDR 2,084,283 per hectare per growing season, representing a decrease of approximately 80%. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening climate adaptation through improved water management, flood-tolerant rice varieties, climate information services, and integrated farming systems to enhance the resilience and sustainability of rice farming in climate-vulnerable swamp ecosystems.