Eleventh International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

The present study was conducted in coastal region of Karnataka to assess crisis management and document the constraints experienced to manage climate induced crisis. The data were collected from 240 fishery based farmers by applying proportionate random sampling technique and pretested interview schedule. It was found that farmers experienced decreasing and unpredictable trend of rainfall, besides increasing temperature and delayed onset of monsoon. Analysis of this trend was validated with their perceptions. Farmers were expressed that climate change has affected their farming through frequent crop failures and declining crop yield. The correlation analysis shows, precipitation alone has explained 23 per cent of the variations in the quantity of rice produced over the period. Important climate induced crisis management strategies initiated by them were; changes in the varieties, time of sowing/planting, changing cropping pattern, soil & water conservation and adoption of irrigation efficient techniques. Forty per cent of farmers’ had medium crisis management and equal (28%) per cent of them had low and high crisis management techniques. Majority of resource rich farmers have adopted best coping mechanisms than small and marginal farmers as they have comparative advantages. The major constraints experienced was, higher labour wage rate and low price for the produce in the market. Early warning about environmental changes and support for increasing the green manuring, were the major suggestions expressed by farmers to mitigate ill effect of climate change.