Determinants of Adaptation Strategies of Agricultural Farmers to Climate Change Vulnerability in Odisha

Abstract

Climate change poses severe threat to agriculture sector in terms of welfare losses especially for marginal & smallholder farmers whose main source of livelihood derives from agriculture. It is required to neutralize the potential adverse effects of climate change if welfare losses to this vulnerable segment of the society are to be avoided. So this study aims to assess the agricultural farmers’ vulnerability and determine quantitatively the factors that contribute in adaptation strategies. To accomplish the stated objective, primary surveys of agricultural farmers are designed and data are collected to analyse the results using probit regression model. The study is conducted in the Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha, India. For the study, a total of 197 farmers’ households were surveyed and to assess the vulnerability of farmers’ household to climate change, IPCC-LVI approach is used. Then to identify the determinants of adaptation strategies, a regression model is run using probit model. The results reveal that farmers are moderately vulnerable to climate change in the study area. Further, marginal & small farmers are relatively more vulnerable than medium and large farmers to climate change. It is observed that size of the farm, income level, access to credit facilities, extension training and access to climate & weather information are important determinants of adaptation strategies of farmers. Therefore, the study concludes that better credit facilities, extension training facilities and dissemination of climate information may be done through policy intervention for more adaptation strategies by farmers.