Sabrina Haque

Impacts and Adaptation to Extreme Weather Events: A Case Study of Central Queensland Fruit Growers

This proposed research study aims to explore fruit farmer's perceptions and experiences; their past and present adaptation strategies; their existing adaptive capacity and their responses to extreme weather events in the Central Queensland coastal region. The research approach will utilise a mixed methodology, which involves collecting, analysing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data. A comprehensive review of literature has been used to identify the research problems and research questions. The resulting quantitative and qualitative data will be analysed by statistical and thematic analyses. It is anticipated that the findings of this research will result in some adaptation strategies that will be recommended for fruit growers.

This research will enable a better understanding of extreme weather impacts on the production of tropical fruits (pineapple, mango and lychee) in the Central Queensland region (Rockhampton, Livingstone, Gladstone and Banana local government areas). In particular, it will explore the fruit grower's perceptions and adaptation strategies both in the past and those with potential for the future to cope with extreme weather events, which is important in the context of recommending new adaptation strategies. Predictions regarding the impact of these extreme weather events and evaluation of adaptation options are important for future planning and farm management. However, the results derived from this study will strengthen further studies in this area.