Author(s):

RS Negi, SS Kaushik and Himanshu Shekhar Singh

Abstract: The present study is an attempt to understand the people’s perception on effects of changes in climatic variables how and to what extent they have adjusted their farming practices to cope with the changes. A total of 150 farmers in one of such village highly vulnerable to climate change in Satna District of Madhya Pradesh were interviewed. This study reveals that villagers keenly observe the changes in climate and its impact on agricultural production and their livelihood options. Climate change is being experienced by the farmers in the form of rising temperatures, extreme climatic events, change in rainfall pattern and increase of drought like situations. Climate and weather has adversely affected the livelihood security of the farm families who rely on agriculture and animal husbandry for their subsistence. The persistent changes in the weather have resulted in the overall decrease in the quantity of available water in all the water sources of the village. The area under irrigation has gradually decreased due to lack of sufficient water for irrigation, resulting in low production of crops and fodder. Rising temperature has also led to a shift in flowering and fruiting time in forest trees. Crop productivity has been reduced because of moisture stress during critical crop growth period resulted in low absorption nutrients and water and higher incidence of pests and diseases during crops growing period. Villagers observed that the maturity period of wheat has reduced by 10-15 days due to change in climatic situation in the region. For Adapting to climate change, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and the villager have developed a common strategies viz. cultivation of crops/varieties that required less water and tolerant to drought. There seems to be a similarity between perceptions held by the people, climate and agricultural data. People are experiencing that winters have become shorter; rainfall has become more unpredictable resulting in higher agricultural cost of production and also occurrence of new weeds flora in the last 10‐15years in that area. Livestock feeding has become more difficult due to unavailability of fodder.

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