Farmer’s perception and factors determining the adaptation decisions to cope with climate change: An evidence from rural India

Abstract

The farmer’s adaptation decision to cope with climate change has drawn considerable attention and recognition of the local and global scale’s human-environmental approach. In this paper, we tried to understand the human dimension of adaptation decision of farmers in rural India. We analyse the farmer’s perception of climate change and socio-economic determinants of farm household which influence adaption decisions and adaptation strategies choices. We conducted a micro-level assessment of 700 farmers and farm households in seven districts of the Bihar state of northern India. The data is analysed through descriptive statistics and logistic regression. The study finds that 80 per cent of the surveyed farmers perceive and predict climate changes and choose to adopt. This study found that the key socio-economic variables such as the farmer’s age, gender, household size, education level, off-farm income, and farm-size influence farmers’ adaptation decisions. This study will help identify the critical household characteristics that may be integrated into future policy formulation and implementation to be integrated into future policy formulation and a successful adaptation future.

Keywords

• Climate perception
• Vulnerability
• Adaptation strategies
• Socio-ecological system
• Livelihoods