Assessment of Farmer’s Attitude and Social Vulnerability to Climate Change in the Semi-arid Region

Abstract

This study was conducted in the semi-arid region, Agra of Uttar Pradesh, during 2016-19 to assess farmers’ perceptions and attitudes about climate change and farmers’ social vulnerability; and identify the significant factors that influence social vulnerability. Primary data was collected from 120 farmers using a well-structured interview schedule. Results revealed that most respondents recognized the decline in the rainfall quantum and rise in temperatures and the increase in the frequency of hot days and droughts. Almost all respondents believed that soil and water conservation measures were most effective in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. The social vulnerability index illustrated that more than half of respondents were moderate socially vulnerable in climate-changing scenarios. The multiple regressions results confirmed that land size, total income, perception, knowledge, awareness of climate change phenomena, and adaptive capacity were significant predictor variables for social vulnerability to climate change. There is a need to improve knowledge and perception and change attitudes among the respondents through an educational campaign, mass media exposure, and individual contact with trained extension personnel to effectively cope with the consequences of climate change.

Constraints in Adoption of Climate Resilient Agricultural Technologies in Telangana

“…Climate change is affecting agricultural sector in India (Vijayabhinandana et al, 2022). Climate change and extreme hazards like floods and severe droughts lead to substantial crop losses, volatility of food prices, and livelihood insecurity (Ghanghas et al, 2015;Meena et al, 2022). Climate change has a variety of effects on agriculture, including decreased crop productivity, incidence of pest and diseases and change in cropping pattern (Ashoka et al, 2022).…”

Climate Change Adaptation Constraints among Paddy Growing Farmers in Kalyana-Karnataka Region of Karnataka State

“…Water requirement of crops is additionally likely to travel up with projected warming. Extreme events like floods, cyclones, wave and wave are likely to extend (Meena et al, 2022).…”

Do Socio-economic Conditions and Personal Behaviour Influence the Adoption of Climate Change Mitigating Measures

“…In recent years, the projected adverse impact of climate change has attracted significant attention to adopting climate-smart agricultural (CSA) technologies to cope with the risk associated with climate change (Birthal et al, 2019;Mairura et al, 2021;Naik et al, 2023). An appropriate understanding of the determinants of farmers' perception of climate change is vital for making pro-farmer policies and adopting effective mitigation and adaptation strategies (Meena et al, 2022a). Most of the existing literature has reported the farmer's perception of climate change in terms of changes in temperatures, total rainfall, monsoon onsets and offsets, change in droughts frequency, lengths of summer and winter seasons, etc.…”

“…Most of the existing literature has reported the farmer's perception of climate change in terms of changes in temperatures, total rainfall, monsoon onsets and offsets, change in droughts frequency, lengths of summer and winter seasons, etc. (Banerjee, 2015;Ravikumar et al, 2015;Ghanghas et al, 2015;Guhathakurta et al, 2020;Meena et al, 2022b). The studies analysed the determinants of farmers' perception of climate change, assuming a farmer has the perception of climate change by considering any of the above-listed variables.…”

“…In India, climate change threatens the sustainability of the agriculture sector by altering soil quality and the availability of irrigation water (Meena, 2022b). Policymakers and development practitioners are approaching farmers to adopt CSA technologies at the grass root level that help the sustainability of agricultural productivity, and adapt and make resilient agricultural systems.…”