Pushkar Dev1*, Suman Khandelwal2, S.C. Yadav1, Vikas Arya1, Dilip Singh3, H.R. Mali1 and Poonam1
1*KVK, (Alwar-1), Alwar-I, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University,
Jobner (Rajasthan), India
2College of Agriculture, Navgaon, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University,
Jobner (Rajasthan), India
3College of Agriculture, Bharatpur, Sri Karan Narendra Agriculture University,
Jobner (Rajasthan), India
Email: pushkardevgurjar@gmail.com
Received-05.02.2023, Revised-16.02.2023, Accepted-27.02.2023
Abstract: Agriculture is the mainstay of the Indian economy, contributing to food security and livelihood of farming community. Climate change and agriculture are interconnected processes as change in climate affects production of agriculture produce. The rapid change in climate i.e. increasing temperature, long dry spell in rainy season, late set of monsoon etc. makes farmers condition vulnerable and pathetic. Farmers are not able to adapt fast enough in order to mitigate climate change adverse effects on agriculture. In order to be willing to take adaptation strategy, farming community need to perceive that the climate is changing, and need to take measure to mitigate its adverse effect on agriculture practices. There is also need to study about farmers faced constraint to climate change adaptation. In order to understand farmers perception on climate change and its impact, to identify adaptation needs and constraint faced to adaptation, structured schedule , focus group discussion and trend analysis has carried out of farmers of Alwar district. The study found that majority of farmers aware about the climate change and also perceived the increasing in temperature and low rainfall in district. For the maximum (82.00 percent) farmers show that climate change affects the quality and quantity of ground water and about more than 80 percent farmers says that climate change means unpredictable weather, decreasing of irrigation sources and less or no rain. This study also collected information on climate change adaptation strategies applied by farming community to mitigate its effect and make farming a profitable business. This is observing that farmers not aware about the low requirement water crops and also they were not practicing to conserve rain water for future use. Majority of farmers (more that 70 percent) were indicated that they are increase animal husbandry because of loss in crop production activity and also only cultivating traditional crop (millets and mustard especially). This study is suggested that agriculture scientist, policy maker and other line department need to more in tune with farmers and extension functionaries need to understand of how climate is changing in order to improve adaptation policy, formulation and implementation. Also need of capacity building at local level is vital to enable to adapt to changing climate.
Keyword: Climate Change, Agriculture, Vulnerability, Adaptation strategy
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