Climate change and variability: Mapping vulnerability of agriculture using Geospatial Technologies

Abstract

Climate change and variability is of particular concern for India, since it has a direct impact on agriculture. It is expected to contribute to increase in temperature, rainfall variability and decrease in irrigation water supplies, greater frequency of extreme weather events and shifting seasons with serious effects on agriculture sector, forestry, food security, natural resources, economic activity, human health, and infrastructure which have deep influence on Indian national economy and livelihood (IPCC, 2014). Faced with these challenges, decision makers and planners need information to assist for preparedness, allocate resources effectively, and reduce impacts. To minimize the likely harm associated with climate change, people and society need an accurate assessment of the vulnerability of the ecosystem in which they inhabit. The key features of climate change vulnerability and adaptation are those related to variability and extremes, not specifically changed average conditions. The present study showed that geospatial technologies can be used to collate, reformat and standardize indicator level data at administrative level(here district) to generate vulnerability rating.