FARMERS’ PERCEPTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THEIR ADAPTATIONS
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Date
2010-07-10
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UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES GKVK, BENGALURU
Abstract
The present study was conducted in the Eastern Dry Zone (Zone-5) of
Karnataka during 2009-10 to know the perception of farmers’ about climate
change and adaptation measures initiated due to climate change and also to
identify the constraints experienced by them to initiate adaptation measures.
Visible variation in rainfall and temperature was observed in Zone-5 hence,
these climate parameters were considered for the study.
The findings revealed that, nearly 54.11 per cent of farmers had high
level followed by low (26.35%) and medium (19.54%) level of perception about
changes in rainfall before 2000. The majority (96.66%) of farmers had medium
level followed by high (1.67%) and low (1.67%) level of perception about changes
in rainfall after 2000. Though the actual data indicates there was increase in
the rainfall after 2000, but farmers’ perceived that, there was decrease in the
rainfall, it may be because, they growing high water demand crops in recent
days. The results of study indicates that, about 75 per cent of farmers had
medium followed by low (22.50 %) and high (2.50 %) level of perception about
changes in the temperature before 2000. Nearly 99.66 per cent had medium
followed by low (3.34 %) level of perception about changes in temperature after
2000. With respect to perception of farmers about climate change, there was
increase in the perception level of farmers after 2000 when compare to changes
in the climate before 2000. All farmers opined that, cost of cultivation, pest and
disease incidence had increased, yield and income from agriculture had been
adversely affected due to climate change. In the study area Ragi, Paddy and
Mulberry were the major crops. With respect to adaptation measures initiated
by farmers in above crops, changes in varieties, time of planting, switching over
to other crops and soil and water conservation practices was observed among
37.50 per cent of farmers who had medium level of adaptation before 2000 and
55.83 per cent had high level of adaptation after 2000. Majority of the farmers
had initiated dairy, sericulture and other subsidiary occupations as an
adaptation measures to climate change. Most of the marginal farmers followed
by small and big farmers and their family members were migrated to cities in
search of jobs and other facilities. The major constraints experienced by
farmers to initiate adaptation measures were, difficult to work in the field for
longer hours, followed by high cost of agricultural inputs, non availability of
timely inputs and low price for the produce in the market. They have also given
important suggestions to mitigate the ill effects of climate change viz., early
warning has to be given to the farmers about environmental changes, creating
awareness about appropriate adaptation measures against climate change and
development departments should take up measures in supplying production
inputs at appropriate time in the villages.
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