Adaptation Measures towards Climate change

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Charla Horton
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1 Title of the Paper: Understanding Farmers Knowledge, Attitude and Adaptation Measures towards Climate change in Anantapur District of A.P. Dr. K. Ravi Shankar, Senior Scientist (Agril.Extn.) Transfer of Technology Section Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) Hyderabad

2 Differences between Climate variability The way climate fluctuates (daily, seasonal, annual, inter annual) above or below a long term average value. Climate change Long term (decades or longer) continuous change (increase or decrease in frequency, severity and duration) of average weather conditions or the range of weather. Mitigation refers to actions taken to lower the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and thereby reduce the extent to which the global climate system changes relative to how we have know it to be in the recent past. Adaptation refers to actions taken to reduce the negative consequences of changes in the climate (e.g. switching to drought resistant crops, creating / protecting a coastal buffer zone, developing an effective early warning system, building flood barriers, extending insurance, etc.), or if possible to leverage any positive consequences that may result from such changes (e.g. growing climate sensitive crops like grapes in new areas, using land thatt was previously waterlogged, increased water availability in certain places and times of year, etc.).

3 Objectives of the Study: 1. To identify farmers perceptions, attitudes towards climate change in Anantapur district of A.P. 2. To find out the major farm-level adaptation measures followed by farmers in coping with the perceived climatic change. 3. To find out the relationship between different socioeconomic characteristics of farmers with their adaptation strategies. 4. To suggest appropriate policy/research issues that help facilitate farmers adaptation to climate change.

4 Methodology The study was conducted in Anantapur district of A.P. reflecting drought conditions. From Anantapur, two mandals viz., Garladinne and Singanamala were selected randomly. A sample of 60 each from two villages viz., Eguvapalli and Chakraipet were selected randomly for data collection.

5 Data was collected using a structured and pre-tested interview schedule from the farmers. Focus group discussion and interviews were conducted to elicit data from farmers. Likert method of summated ratings procedure was used for constructing attitude scale. Frequency, Percent analysis, correlation, regression and adaptation indices were used for data analysis.

6 Results Farmers Perceptions regarding Climate change in Anantapur 1. Prolonged dry spells (80%), 2. Rise in temperatures (78%), 3. Delayed and shorter rains (70%), 4. Extended breaks in monsoon (63%), 5. Rainfall outside rainy season (43%), 6. Extended monsoon periods (28%).

7 Farmers Adaptation Measures towards Climate change in Anantapur 1. Insurance (93%), 2. Change in planting dates, cropping pattern (87%), 3. Diversifyif to livestock (65%), 4. Work as lb labour (60%), 5. Construct Water harvesting structures (58%), 6. Improved irrigation systems (43%)

8 Adaptation was derived by assigning scores of 0, 1, and 2 for non, partial and full adaptation of measures respectively. In case of drought and floods, total adaptation measures were 8 for each respectively, and hence maximum adaptation score that can be obtained is 16, while minimum adaptation score that can be obtained by a farmer is 0. Adaptation indices were computed tdfor assessing the adaptation. ti Adaptation index = Adapted measures/total recommended measures x 100 Table 1. Adaptation indices of farmers for Anantapur Statistic/ Category Anantapur (n=60) Mean 67.2 S.D C.V. 15.7

9 Table 2. Correlation coefficients between socio economic variables and farmers adaptation to Climate change in Anantapur Socio-economic variables r value Age Education Family size ** Farm experience Farm size Annual income **Significant at 0.01 probability level

10 Table 3. Regression coefficients of socio economic variables with farmers adaptation to Climate change in Anantapur Socio- Regression Standard t value economic variables coefficient error Age Education Family size ** Farm experience Farm size Annual income R 2 =0.18, **Significant at 0.01 probability level

11 Attitude in this study means the degree of positive or negative feelings, beliefs of farmers towards climate change in agriculture and allied fields. The steps followed for constructing the Likert type of scale to measure the attitude of farmers towards climate change is discussed below: a) Collectionof statements. b) Editing of the statements. c) Selection of statements and scoring technique. d) Critical ratio (t value) e) Reliability. f) Validity. Attitudes of farmers towards climate change provide feedback to the research for developing tools for the decision i support systems.

12 Table 4. Farmers Agreement/Disagreement with Attitude towards Climate change statements in Anantapur S. Attitude statement Agree (%) Disagree (%) No. 1. Climate change is a serious problem Climatechange is affecting my farming Average temperatures are increasing by a few degrees Human activity it is responsible for climate change Climate change affects small and marginal farmers more Climate change impacted food production of my farm Climate change affected incidence of pests and diseases Cropping seasons in my village are changing Local knowledge system of the area can offer solutions to climate change problems Climate change is the anger of God for the avarice and ill ways of humans towards nature. 77 8

13 S. No. Attitude statement Agree (%) Disagree (%) 11. I do not take climate change into account when thinking about my future I am uncertain about the ability of my farm to cope with climate change Prolonged dry spells experienced during kharif are part of natural climate variability I will be more interested in climate change when I know how it will affect rainfall distribution in my farm Rainfall patterns are changing In response to change in rainfall patterns, I have changed the time of planting/harvesting in my farm Farmers have much bigger challenges to deal with than climate change Government should do more to help farmers adapt to climate change Scientists can solve the problems of climate change The seriousness of climate change has been exaggerated. 85 0

14 Conclusions: Common perceptions of climate change in Anantapur are prolonged dry spells, rise in temperatures, and delayed and shorter rains. Common adaptation measures towards climate change in Anantapur are insurance, change in planting dates and diversify to livestock. The mean adaptation index value for Anantapur is Family size is negatively significant with climate adaptation of farmers in Anantapur. This implies that large families adapt less to climate change. Risk taking ability is less, what, with resources enough just to take care of their food and livelihood needs.

15 In Anantapur, >90% of farmers agreed with the following attitude statements: Climate change is a serious problem. Climate change is affecting my farming. Average temperatures are increasing by a few degrees. Human activity is responsible for climate change. Climate change affects small and marginal farmers more. Rainfall patterns are changing. Understanding how and why farmers have responded to Understanding how and why farmers have responded to climate change is a necessary step to informing how to support current and future adaptation.

16 ThankU!

Climate Change Impact on Paddy Farming in Erode and Tiruchirapalli Districts of Tamil Nadu

Journal of Extension Education Vol. 27 No. 4, 2015 Climate Change Impact on Paddy Farming in Erode and Tiruchirapalli Districts of Tamil Nadu P. Sivaraj 1 and H. Philip 2 ABSTRACT Climate change implies