Mainstreaming climate resilience into agricultural development: readiness of the extension system in Kerala

Abstract

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.