Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Policy Preferences: A Snapshot of Farmers’ Perceptions in India

Abstract

It was thought, during the early phases of the project ‘National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture’ (NICRA), appropriate and useful to elicit and understand the beliefs and perceptions of farmers regarding climate change in terms of its nature, manifestations, impacts and adaptation and coping responses in the context of developing technologies and strategies for a more climate resilient agriculture in India. Considering the agro-climatic and socio-economic diversity in the country, a wider-scale survey only could help understand what farmers think and believe of climate change. Accordingly, this study was planned to be conducted in fifty districts selected for relatively higher incidence of climate aberrations such as drought, flood, heat and cold waves, etc. The results of any such survey would be comparable when responses were elicited within a reasonable span of time. In order to complete the survey within a reasonable time frame, the task was outsourced to M/S. Mott MacDonald through an appropriate administrative procedure. The study received strong support and guidance from Dr. A.K. Singh and Dr. A.K. Sikka, former Deputy Directors General (NRM) and Dr. K. Alagusundaram, Deputy Director General (NRM) ICAR, New Delhi. The study benefitted immensely from the vision and support of Dr B Venkateswarlu, former Director, ICAR-CRIDA. The study was facilitated by a committee comprising of Dr. V.U.M. Rao, former Project Coordinator (AICRPAM), some of the authors of this document, the Chief Administrative Officer, Senior Finance and Accounts Officer and Dr. S.V. Ramana Rao, Principal Scientist, Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad as an external member. The project team of NICRA consisting of the Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator always provided all the support needed. Inputs were obtained from and consultations were made with officers of the Department of Agriculture, scientists of State Agricultural Universities and KVKs located within the districts selected for the survey. All the farmers selected for household survey spent their time in sharing the information and perceptions. Smt. C. Kanaka Durga took the task of word processing the document. We express our deep gratitude to each one of them.