Climate Resilience in Northern Jordan's Small Ruminant Production: Strategies for Sustainable Adaptation

Climate change poses a significant threat to small ruminant farming globally, and understanding farmers' perceptions and adaptive strategies is crucial for developing effective resilience measures. This study hypothesizes that farmers' perceptions of climate change, their management practices, and demographic factors influence their capacity to adapt and sustain small ruminant production in Northern Jordan. To test this, we conducted a survey with 272 farmers complemented by focus group discussions across four regions. Results showed that the majority of farmers reported increases in temperature coupled with reductions in both rainfall and rangelands in both short and long term. Despite those observations, only 55 percent of farmers expressed concern in climate change. In addition, while many had begun implementing mitigation measures, over 70 percent had not yet made any changes to try and address these changes. Interestingly, a large number of local breed farmers stated that they appreciated the native breeds for their climatic adaptability and local environmental suitability, and they had also adjusted grazing and feeding management practices accordingly. Additionally, those reasons suggested that most farmers were responsive to change