IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE IN SIRMAUR DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2021-12
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT The present study entitled “Impact Assessment of Climate Change on Agriculture in Sirmaur District of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh. A sample of 60 farmers was selected using multistage stratified sampling. The study was based on both primary and secondary data. Analysis of vulnerability index revealed that Una district was found most vulnerable district and Kinnaur was found least vulnerable to climate change in 2020. The sensitivity and exposure indicators were found to be the highest contributors towards vulnerability, which accounted for 77.92 per cent and 37.23 per cent respectively. Sirmaur ranked 8th position for climate change vulnerability index for the year 2020. Analysis of trends and pattern in rainfall and temperature at district level showed a significant warming trend of 0.220C/year and decreasing trend of 0.08950C/year during the period 1990-2020. Amongst the blocks, Rajgarh block was found to be the highly vulnerable and Sangrah was found to be the least vulnerable during 2000. Again, Rajgarh was found to be the most vulnerable block and Pachhad was the least vulnerable block during 2010. In 2020, Rajgarh was still the most vulnerable block and Paonta Sahib was the least vulnerable block. Exposure component was found to be most crucial for the high vulnerability of the Rajgarh area, where it contributed to the tune of 68.76 per cent in 2000, 73.40 per cent in 2010 and 78.56 per cent 2020. Weather parameters like minimum temperature, maximum temperature and rainfall showed medium impact on various agriculture crops as Sirmaur district comes under moderately vulnerable category. These variables had an impact up to 18 per cent, 11 per cent and 44 per cent on major cereals crops wheat, maize and paddy respectively. In case of major vegetables like pea, tomato and garlic the impact of weather parameters was found to be 60 per cent, 31 per cent and 19 per cent respectively. The results of the study revealed that overall average size of family in selected blocks was around 5 persons in sample households. The overall literacy rate in study area was 84.42 per cent and agriculture was the main occupation as 72.53 per cent of family members were involved in agricultural practices. The average size of the land holding per household was 1 ha. The cropping intensity was found to be 187.22 per cent in Paonta Sahib and 173.16 per cent in Rajgarh, indicating the possibility of improving it if irrigation infrastructure is developed. Potato in Rabi season and tomato in Kharif season were the predominant vegetable crops grown by the farmers. On an average, the productivity of potato was found 124.84 q/ha and of tomato 165.38 q/ha. The demographic factors, land use and land use pattern, better irrigation and crop productivity in the study area is helpful in improving adaptive capacity of Sirmaur district which lie in a moderately vulnerable district of the state. Lack of access to early warning information, lack of awareness about climate change, high cost of adoption etc. were the key problems in adopting various farmer’s strategies to cope up with climate change. According to experts, awareness towards climate change should be created through extension workers, training programmes/camps related to agriculture at village level. Investments should be made in constructing water harvesting structures like tanks etc. to conserve the scarce moisture. Improving the access of farmers to more accurate weather information and framing farmer friendly policies in this regard can help farmers in securing their livelihood in challenging situations