Assessment of Knowledge about Climate Change among Dairy Farmers’ of Jharkhand

Abstract

Climate change has emerged as a global problem affecting each and every living organism. Dairy animals particularly the cattle and buffalo are suffering from direct impact like reduced feed intake causing reduction in milk production, infertility, delayed estrous, occurrence of diseases, and indirect impact like unavailability of green fodder round the year. Ultimately profitability for dairy farmers is negatively affected. Adequate knowledge of dairy farmers about the changing climate enables them to adopt mitigation strategies like using fans or sprinklers in the shed, providing fresh and cool drinking water, and changing the feeding time. In this context, the present study was carried out to know the knowledge level of dairy farmers about climate change among 240 dairy farmers from all the three agro-climatic regions (80 from each) of Jharkhand. Personal interview method using structured interview schedule was followed to collect the primary data. The results indicated that maximum farmers had medium knowledge level about the climate change (60.83%) and its impact (66.67%). Most of the farmers had heard or read about climate change (67.50), thought that climate is really changing (71.25%), were sure that climate is changing (70.83), knew that climate change affects agriculture and animal husbandry (57.08%) and knew that indigenous breeds are better adapted to adverse climatic conditions (82.08%). The knowledge level of farmers was found to be significantly correlated with age, farming experience, annual income, SES and extension participation at 1% and with land holding at 5% level of significance. Education, gender and caste were also found to have significant effect on farmer’s level of knowledge about climate change. The findings underscore the urgent need for attention and action from relevant departments and organizations to support farmers in adapting to evolving environmental conditions.