Modeling resilience behavior against climate change with food security approach

The cities of Rafsanjan and Anar are among the main production areas of pistachio, one of Iran’s most important export products. However, these regions have faced severe environmental problems in recent years, including climate change. Subsequently, paying attention to the food security and resilience behavior of pistachio farmers in this region is essential to confront the negative impacts of climate change. Therefore, the present study analyzed the relationship between climate change, resilience behavior, and food security in the rural areas of Rafsanjan and Anar. The data collection tool was a questionnaire constructed from parts of several previous study questionnaires, and its validity and reliability were confirmed. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the Unified Theory of Acceptance, and the Use of Technology Theory (UTAUT) were used to set the study’s theoretical framework. The statistical population consisted of all rural pistachio producers (27,860 people), of which 588 were selected to participate in the study. Data processing was performed using the AMOSver24 software. The results indicate that the level of food security and resilient behavior of the studied farmers in the face of climate change is moderate. In addition, the results of the structural equations showed that the variable resilience behavior against climate change has a direct relationship with the food security of pistachio farmers in the studied areas (estimate = 0.637; R2 = 0.41). Moreover, the variables of behavioral intention, perceived behavioral control, facilitating conditions, attitude towards resilience behavior, performance expectancy, and subjective norms have the most indirect effect on the food security of pistachio farmers in rural areas of Rafsanjan and Anar, respectively. The research results confirm the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Use of Technology Theory.