Farmers’ beliefs and concerns about climate change, and their adaptation behavior to combat climate change in Saudi Arabia

other peer farmers, internet, friends, mobile phone, and TV and radio. About 87% of the farm- ers reported that they observed a long-term decrease in rainfall over the last 15 years. In terms of temperature, a vast majority (92%) observed a long-term increase in temperature over the last 15 years. Over four-fifths opined an increase in temperature during last 20 years. Around 41% indicated a decrease in crop productivity during last 15 years; however, about 39% expressed that changes in crop productivity varied from crop to crop. 3.4. Farmers’ concerns about adverse impacts of climate change Table 4 lists farmers’ concerns regarding adverse impacts of climate change at their farms. Most of the farmers (74%) were concerned about drought. Flooding was not a source of con- cern by the majority of farmers (72%). About 32% expressed that they were slightly concerned about weeds. Three-fourths of the respondents expressed their concerns about insect pressure and crop diseases. About 37% of the farmers reported that they were concerned about soil ero- sion. Heat stress on crops was also a source of concerns by most of the farmers (71%). Nearly half (47%) of the farmers stated that they were not concerned about saturated soils and ponded water at their farms. Table 3. Frequency distribution of the farmer’s sources of information and personal observations about climate change. Variable Frequency (n = 80) Percent Sources of information about climate change� Other farmers 67 83.8 Internet 67 83.8 Friends 64 80.0 Mobile 62 77.5 TV & radio 59 73.8 Newspapers 41 51.2

Agricultural extension 28 35.0 Cooperative agriculture 21 26.3 I do not have any sources 11 13.8 Observing any long-term changes in rainfall over the last 15 years Decrease in rainfall 70 87.5 Increase in rainfall 10 12.5 Observing any long-term changes in temperature over the last 15 years Decrease in temperature 6 7.5 Increase in temperature 74 92.5 Observing changes in crop productivity over the last 15 years I do not know 6 7.5 No change 4 5.0 Varies from crop to crop 31 38.8 Decrease 33 41.3 Increase 6 7.5 Opinion about changes in temperature during last 20 years I do not know 5 6.3 No change 3 3.8 Decrease 6 7.5 Increase 66 82.5 �More than one answers were allowed; percentages of categories do not add up to 100. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280838.t003 PLOS ONE Adaptation of climate change among farmers PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280838 January 25, 2023 8 / 20