Can Agricultural Extension Enhance The Climate Resilience of Smallholder Famers? Evidence from the Food Barn Areas of West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Agricultural extension services can improve smallholder farmers' climate resilience. This study explores the impact of agricultural extension on the resilience of rice farmers in the food barn areas of Karawang district, West Java Province, Indonesia. These regions are critical for national food security but increasingly vulnerable to climate risks. Using a mixed methods approach, we collected data from 100 rice farmers to assess how agricultural extension affects three critical dimensions of resilience: stabilization, adaptation, and transformation. The current study findings provide a preliminary analysis indicating that tailored agricultural extension programs contribute to enhanced resilience, particularly by strengthening farmers' capacity to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate variability. However, challenges remain in extending these benefits uniformly across all farmer groups. This study underscores the importance of adaptive extension models and provides actionable insights for policymakers to strengthen farmer resilience in Indonesia's climate-sensitive regions. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of the role of extension services in building climate resilience for smallholder farmers in Southeast Asia.