The role of rice farmers’ attitude and trust in government in decision-making for participating in a climate-related agri-environmental scheme

Excessive use of synthetic fertilizer has been proven to be an important cause of greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution in many Asian countries. This article aims to provide a better understanding of rice farmers’ preferences for a chemical fertilizer reduction scheme (CFRS) by integrating economic and psychometric factors. A survey of 292 farmers was conducted in Taiwan. The results show that farmers using more chemical fertilizers have a negative attitude towards implementing SAP and less trust in government and would prefer a higher entry payment over an eco-label. On the other hand, farmers using less chemical fertilizer prefer to receive an eco-label rather than incentive payments. Our findings indicate that an eco-label and higher entry payment could overcome the psychological factors that hinder farmers’ engagement. This study provides policymakers with insights into farmers’ decision-making, which could lead to chemical fertilizer reduction, thereby mitigating climate change.