BSc-MSc (Integrated)

Climate change is the major concern of mankind in the 21st century. Under changing climatic scenario, crop failures, reduction in yield, reduction in quality and increasing pest and disease problems are common and they render the cultivation unprofitable. Climate change has both direct and indirect effects on agriculture productivity including changing rainfall pattern, drought, flood, pest and disease outbreaks, etc. The impact of drought can be categorized into physical, economic and environmental. The present study was undertaken with the objectives viz., to analyse the nature and extent of drought in Palakkad district; to study the economic costs of drought on rice in the district; to determine the coping mechanism followed by farmers and recommended by extension functionaries to withstand drought. As per the study objectives, the rice growing farmers (100 no’s) were required to be selected from 5 panchayats. The panchayats were selected based on the area affected by drought. An equal number of farmers who did not suffer losses and suffer losses from drought were also selected randomly from each panchayat for the study purpose. Data were collected in line with the objectives using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. In this study, the main focus is on the meteorological drought. According to the Agriculture department, Palakkad district experienced meteorological drought situation during the year 2016-17. During 2016-17, Palakkad experienced a large reduction in the rainfall received and observed a higher atmospheric temperature. In 2016-17, Palakkad experienced extreme shortage of rainfall (1334.74 mm), which is less than the state average. The cost of cultivation was found that Rs. 54956 ha-1. Hired labour cost accounts for a major share in the total cost of production followed by machine charge, fertilizer and manure charge, seed charge and other expenses. It was found that the cost of cultivation was higher for small (Rs. 81443 ha-1) farmer compared to marginal (Rs. 51103 ha-1) and large (Rs. 44670 ha-1) farmer. Small farmers were suffered more financial loss due to drought. Around 49.09 per cent of yield reduction and 43.6 per cent of financial loss occurred. Regression analysis showed that the most significant variables which contributed to the yield were human labour and machine labour. Technical efficiency analysis showed that the input efficiency of drought affectedfarmers was lower than the unaffected farmers and was found as 51 per cent. This shows that the farmer has a scope for improving the use of inputs like, fertilizer, human labour and machine labour. Irrigation is the one of the most important coping strategy adopted by the farmer followed by using short duration varieties, adjusting the sowing time, insuring the farm against risk and reducing the usage of fertilizer. Thus, it can be concluded that the occurrence of drought, severely affected the farmers’ economic condition. It was found that the small farmers suffered most compared to marginal and large farmers in terms of financial loss.Climate change is the major concern of mankind in the 21st century. Under changing climatic scenario, crop failures, reduction in yield, reduction in quality and increasing pest and disease problems are common and they render the cultivation unprofitable. Climate change has both direct and indirect effects on agriculture productivity including changing rainfall pattern, drought, flood, pest and disease outbreaks, etc. The impact of drought can be categorized into physical, economic and environmental. The present study was undertaken with the objectives viz., to analyse the nature and extent of drought in Palakkad district; to study the economic costs of drought on rice in the district; to determine the coping mechanism followed by farmers and recommended by extension functionaries to withstand drought. As per the study objectives, the rice growing farmers (100 no’s) were required to be selected from 5 panchayats. The panchayats were selected based on the area affected by drought. An equal number of farmers who did not suffer losses and suffer losses from drought were also selected randomly from each panchayat for the study purpose. Data were collected in line with the objectives using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. In this study, the main focus is on the meteorological drought. According to the Agriculture department, Palakkad district experienced meteorological drought situation during the year 2016-17. During 2016-17, Palakkad experienced a large reduction in the rainfall received and observed a higher atmospheric temperature. In 2016-17, Palakkad experienced extreme shortage of rainfall (1334.74 mm), which is less than the state average. The cost of cultivation was found that Rs. 54956 ha-1. Hired labour cost accounts for a major share in the total cost of production followed by machine charge, fertilizer and manure charge, seed charge and other expenses. It was found that the cost of cultivation was higher for small (Rs. 81443 ha-1) farmer compared to marginal (Rs. 51103 ha-1) and large (Rs. 44670 ha-1) farmer. Small farmers were suffered more financial loss due to drought. Around 49.09 per cent of yield reduction and 43.6 per cent of financial loss occurred. Regression analysis showed that the most significant variables which contributed to the yield were human labour and machine labour. Technical efficiency analysis showed that the input efficiency of drought affected farmers was lower than the unaffected farmers and was found as 51 per cent. This shows that the farmer has a scope for improving the use of inputs like, fertilizer, human labour and machine labour. Irrigation is the one of the most important coping strategy adopted by the farmer followed by using short duration varieties, adjusting the sowing time, insuring the farm against risk and reducing the usage of fertilizer. Thus, it can be concluded that the occurrence of drought, severely affected the farmers’ economic condition. It was found that the small farmers suffered most compared to marginal and large farmers in terms of financial loss.