Climate change is already making agriculture more difficult in India. Extreme weather events are becoming more common, and they are often more intense than they used to be. This is making it difficult for farmers to predict when they will need to plant and harvest their crops. Additionally, changes in the amount and timing of rainfall are making it difficult to irrigate fields. As a result, crop yields are often lower than they used to be.
In addition to the physical impacts of climate change, farmers are also facing economic challenges. The price of inputs like seeds and fertilizer has risen in recent years, while the price of crops has remained relatively stagnant. This has made it difficult for farmers to make a profit. Additionally, the Indian government has cut back on agricultural subsidies in recent years, further squeezing farmers' margins.
Looking forward, it is clear that climate change will continue to pose challenges for Indian agriculture. Farmers will need to adapt their practices in order to cope with the changing conditions. This will require investments in new technology and infrastructure. Additionally, the government will need to provide support to farmers in the form of subsidies and other measures
Climate change and Indian agriculture: A systematic review of farmers’ perception, adaptation, and transformation
Author links open overlay panelPrithaDattaaDil BahadurRahutb2
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2022.100543
Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons licenseOpen access
Highlights
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Indian farmers’ perceptions of climate change are primarily consistent with the trends in meteorological variables.
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Majority of the adaptation measures seem to be incremental and systemic in nature.
•
The most influential factor in adopting adaptation options is a lack of access to information.
•
Integrated approach can enhance the assessment of farmers’ adaptation to climate change.
Abstract
Climate change is adversely affecting the Indian agricultural sector. Farmers’ perceptions of and adaptation to the rapidly changing climatic conditions are considered crucial policy measures to combat these adversities. In this context, the present study systematically reviews the literature on farmers’ perception and adaptation in India, drawing mainly from Scopus and Web of Science. Results show that majority of the Indian farmers have perceived a rise in temperature, erratic and decreased rainfall which is consistent with the meteorological data. Indian farmers seem to have adopted a wide range of adaptation measures that are mostly incremental and systemic. Transformational adaptations in the form of substantial changes in land use, resource and labor allocations, occupational pattern, and cropping systems are also increasingly found to be adopted by farmers. However, the literature does not substantially confirm that farmers’ adaptation measures result from their perception of climate change. Lack of access to sufficient information and adequate credit at the right time, household income, farm size, gender, and resource endowment, among others, frequently influences the adoption of adaptation measures. To avoid maladaptive outcomes and achieve long-term sustainability, the study suggests a need for large-scale investments in the Indian farming sector in general and building farmers’ capacity in particular. In addition, adopting an integrated approach for assessing farmers’ perception of and adaptation to changing climatic conditions and their outcomes is essential for effective policymaking towards achieving food security and farmers’ wellbeing.
Answers & Comments
Explanation:
Climate change is already making agriculture more difficult in India. Extreme weather events are becoming more common, and they are often more intense than they used to be. This is making it difficult for farmers to predict when they will need to plant and harvest their crops. Additionally, changes in the amount and timing of rainfall are making it difficult to irrigate fields. As a result, crop yields are often lower than they used to be.
In addition to the physical impacts of climate change, farmers are also facing economic challenges. The price of inputs like seeds and fertilizer has risen in recent years, while the price of crops has remained relatively stagnant. This has made it difficult for farmers to make a profit. Additionally, the Indian government has cut back on agricultural subsidies in recent years, further squeezing farmers' margins.
Looking forward, it is clear that climate change will continue to pose challenges for Indian agriculture. Farmers will need to adapt their practices in order to cope with the changing conditions. This will require investments in new technology and infrastructure. Additionally, the government will need to provide support to farmers in the form of subsidies and other measures
Answer:
Environmental Challenges
Volume 8, August 2022, 100543
Climate change and Indian agriculture: A systematic review of farmers’ perception, adaptation, and transformation
Author links open overlay panelPrithaDattaaDil BahadurRahutb2
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2022.100543
Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons licenseOpen access
Highlights
•
Indian farmers’ perceptions of climate change are primarily consistent with the trends in meteorological variables.
•
Majority of the adaptation measures seem to be incremental and systemic in nature.
•
The most influential factor in adopting adaptation options is a lack of access to information.
•
Integrated approach can enhance the assessment of farmers’ adaptation to climate change.
Abstract
Climate change is adversely affecting the Indian agricultural sector. Farmers’ perceptions of and adaptation to the rapidly changing climatic conditions are considered crucial policy measures to combat these adversities. In this context, the present study systematically reviews the literature on farmers’ perception and adaptation in India, drawing mainly from Scopus and Web of Science. Results show that majority of the Indian farmers have perceived a rise in temperature, erratic and decreased rainfall which is consistent with the meteorological data. Indian farmers seem to have adopted a wide range of adaptation measures that are mostly incremental and systemic. Transformational adaptations in the form of substantial changes in land use, resource and labor allocations, occupational pattern, and cropping systems are also increasingly found to be adopted by farmers. However, the literature does not substantially confirm that farmers’ adaptation measures result from their perception of climate change. Lack of access to sufficient information and adequate credit at the right time, household income, farm size, gender, and resource endowment, among others, frequently influences the adoption of adaptation measures. To avoid maladaptive outcomes and achieve long-term sustainability, the study suggests a need for large-scale investments in the Indian farming sector in general and building farmers’ capacity in particular. In addition, adopting an integrated approach for assessing farmers’ perception of and adaptation to changing climatic conditions and their outcomes is essential for effective policymaking towards achieving food security and farmers’ wellbeing.