Assessing the vulnerability of farm economies against climate change in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Vulnerability analysis is a crucial step in developing adaptation strategies against the climate change. The present study evaluates the district-level vulnerability of the Himachal Pradesh state by analysing the secondary data on sixteen indicators; under its three components (exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity) over a period of 34 years (1985-2018). Highest vulnerability to climate change is observed in Mandi (0.334), while it is lowest in Lahaul-Spiti (0.074) district. Out of twelve districts, only three viz., Bilaspur, Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur have experienced a declining trend, while, a rising trend has been experienced in the vulnerability of Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmour, Solan and Una districts. Sirmour (31.10) has the highest instability in the vulnerability index which is mainly due to the highest instability found in its sensitivity index. On the other hand, lowest instability is found in Hamirpur district (7.79). The three components of vulnerability index viz., exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity have been observed to be highest in Mandi (0.269), Hamirpur (0.146) and Kullu (0.055) and are lowest in Lahaul-Spiti (0.041), Sirmour (0.067) and Kullu (0.040), respectively.

Keywords

• Vulnerability index
• Exposure
• Sensitivity
• Adaptive capacity