Determinants in the Adoption of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies: Evidence from Wheat Farmers in Bundelkhand Region, India

Abstract

By using systematically collected field survey data of 200 farmers and binary logistic regression, results of this study reveals that wheat farmers of Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh, India are well-aware of changing climate and adjusting their farm practices to enhance climate resilience capacity. Farmers use their indigenous knowledge coupled with extension services provided by the government to diversify their occupation and cropping pattern as adaptation strategies. The Binary logistic regression results show that information on climate, access to institutional credit and having crop insurance motivate farmers to improved irrigation facilities. Further, farmers perceive that increase in temperature, decline in rainfall and water tables jointly change cropping pattern from the high water-intensive crop (wheat) to low water-intensive crop (chickpea) as a climate adaptation strategy. The study suggests developing a common platform for government services for the region. Community participation and regular training programmes in the sample villages are benefiting farmers to channelize their indigenous knowledge and optimize local resources, which leads to sustainable farming.

Keywords

• Farmers Perception; Climate Adaptation; Rainfed Agriculture; Bundelkhand Region