MSc

Mitigating the impact of climate change requires mainstreaming climate
resilience into agricultural systems through research, awareness
building,
standardization of new cultivation practices and introduction of adaptation practices,
all of which call for targeted extension delivery, special support packages, action
research programmes and participatory problem solving. Reorientation of the extension
delivery system by equipping the extension institutions with scientific content and
action programmes to propagate the strategies to mitigate climate change is imminent.
Kerala, with its receding share of agriculture is under the pressure of climate
change. The study attempted to appraise the readiness of the public extension system
to face the challenge of climate change in Kerala in terms of the institutional and
financial support available and find out the role played by various agencies. The study
also assessed the extent of vulnerability at the farm level, delineated the dimensions of
climate resilient agriculture and explored the level of awareness and adoption of
climate resilient practices among the farming community.
The sample included 40 extension personnel of the Department of Agriculture
and 100 farmers drawn from 30 Grama Panchayats in Palakkad and 10 Grama
Panchayats in Wayanad. Data were collected by using structured interview schedules
and focused group discussions.
The extent of climate change vulnerability at the farm level was assessed using
Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) and Palakkad was found to be more vulnerable
(0.14) than Wayanad (0.12). Among the dimensions of climate change delineated it
was found that there are three distinct dimensions of climate change and its impact, viz.
ecological, economic and social resilience. Out of the different components of
ecological resilience, agro-ecological features of farming was perceived to be the key
component, whereas, integrated farming approach with weather based crop insurance,
enhanced seed security and alternative livelihood options would enhance economic
resilience of the farming community. Adequate infrastructure and community networks
to encounter climatic debacle and increased awareness on climate change would help
build up social resilience.
Awareness of farmers on climate change was found to be higher with respect to
crop related aspects and lower in the case of soil and water related components.
However, significant difference could be observed between farmers and extension
personnel with regard to overall awareness on climate change and its impacts.
Of the different climate resilient practices, rain water harvesting structures,
integrated weed management practices and community seed bank were found to be
adopted more. Farmers in Wayanad were found to have higher mean adoption index
(82.83). Attributes like farm size, annual income, farming integration, access to
climatological information, education, institutional support and innovativeness of the
farmers were found to have significant positive correlation with awareness on climate
resilient practices and adoption.
Readiness of the public extension system to mainstream climate resilience was
explored by analyzing 16 programmes of the Department of Agriculture. Functional
components of these programmes which would be instrumental in building climate
resilience to the system were identified and financial support to each of them was
assessed. ‘Vegetable development programme’ was found to have maximum
functional components that could address climate resilience. However, financial outlay
of these programmes from 2013-14 to 2017-18 showed higher compound growth rate
for ‘soil and root health management and productivity improvement’ interventions.
Considering both the outlay and number of programme components, extension support
(4.88) and crop production (4.69) interventions were found to have more readiness to
combat climate change.
In view of the positive and significant relationship between climate change
awareness and adoption of resilient practices, it is important that the farming
community is scientifically oriented towards building climate resilient agriculture.
Shortfalls in institutional and financial support should be sealed with redesigning each
development programme with adequate components to address climate change.