Transition from vulnerability to resilience to dust storms: a mixed-methods research

Dust storms are among the major environmental problems. Most governments have failed to manage this recurring phenomenon. The present study investigated the farmers’ resilience to dust storms and the factors reducing their vulnerability to these catastrophic events. To this end, a mixed-methods research approach, including grounded theory and survey research, was performed. Qualitative findings were analyzed using Atlas. ti 9 software and the factors affecting farmers’ resilience and vulnerability to dust were identified through the application of SmartPLS3 software. Qualitative findings disclosed that agricultural education and extension services, financial supports, and health care, political, and legal supports can enhance the resilience of farmers to dust storms. However, among the five dimensions of resilience to dust storms, including access to basic services, adaptive capacity, assets, social safety nets, and stability, assets and access to basic services were among the major indicators of resilience. Additionally, health care, political, and legal supports, agricultural education and extension services, and financial supports were the main determinants of resilience to dust storms. Furthermore, quantitative analysis revealed low, medium, and high vulnerabilities to dust storms. Assets and access to basic services were the major drivers of farmers’ vulnerability to dust storms. Providing institutional, educational, financial, and health care supports can enhance farmers’ resilience to dust storms. Also, poverty alleviation and capacity-building policies can empower vulnerable groups and reduce their reliance on climate-sensitive income resources.