Impacts of Climate Change on Household Income Level of the Farmers: The Case of Sarayonu District of Konya Province in Turkey

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Climate change is already a common phenomenon to people from all walks of life worldwide. Climate characteristics are essential for sufficient agricultural production to keep the income balance of the households of the producers. However, changes in climate characteristics bring changes in agricultural output which consequently affects the income levels of the producers. This study aims to explore how changes in global climate bring changes in water levels, consequently affecting the agriculture and income source of the households of the study area. This study uses an in-depth interview form to interview the farmers living in the Sarayonu district of Konya province in Turkey to explore their vulnerability to climate change and its impacts on their households' income and poverty levels. The study results show that changes in water resources due to climate change impacts negatively affect the agriculture sector of Sarayonu, which alters the income sources of the households of the farmers. As a result, farmers cannot go for irrigated farming for many years and, consequently, do not have a proper harvest. Since climate change impacts reduce agricultural land productivity, farmers get low quality and less crop yield, leading the households into an income crisis.