Farmers’ Satisfaction with Climate Change Adaptation Strategy: A Gender Based Assessment

Abstract

Aggravated impacts of climate change have been visible in India through the intensification of urban floods, prolonged heatwaves, severe droughts, and rising sea levels. India has prioritised adaptation as a cornerstone of climate change responses. Special efforts are being made to employ adaptation measures through a national adaptation plan for climate change. This study presents a comparative analysis using a gender-based research approach, which treats farmers’ selected socioeconomic characteristics as predictor variables in relation to different attributes of technological interventions used as adaptation measures against climate change, with the goal of contributing to agricultural extension research and drawing extension professionals’ attention to evaluating farmers’ satisfaction with adaptation strategies against the effects of climate change. The study was conducted between 2024 and 2026. A total of 108 tribal respondents from Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh were included in the study. Farmers and their spouses were taken as respondents at the household level. Primary data were collected through a survey in three selected villages of Dindori district, Madhya Pradesh. The variables included in the analysis were male and female farmers’ socioeconomic and psychological characteristics: age, education, landholding, annual family income, farming experience, irrigation sources, occupation, cropping pattern, credit accessibility, market accessibility, extension contact for climate, awareness of weather parameters, mass media exposure, change proneness, training attended on CRA, risk perception, and scientific orientation. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the influence of farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics on their satisfaction levels with adaptation strategies. Similar to male farmers, female farmers’ adaptation techniques were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with communication exposure. Because male and female farmers’ agricultural activities differ, the government should focus on providing gender-specific training facilities. Hence, the study recommends that the government should focus more on climate change adaptation strategies through the robust use of various communication methods and training programmes, such as demonstrations and localised training programmes. Female farmers should be prioritised for training and awareness programmes on suitable agricultural practices.