Perception of Climate Change Among Fishery Based

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Mysore J. Agric. Sci., 49 (2) : 413-417, 2015

Perception of Climate Change Among Fishery Based Farmers’ in Coastal Region of Karnataka State H. M. Vinaya Kumar and M. Shivamurthy Department of Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru - 560 065

ABSTRACT Climate change is expected to adversely affect agricultural production in India. This study was undertaken to understand the farmers perceptions about climate change among farmers practicing fishery based farming, its impact and indigenous adaptation measures they pursue. Based on the data collected from 240 fishery farmers of coastal region of Karnataka, it was found that farmers experienced climate change in terms of decreasing and unpredictable rainfall, increasing temperature and delayed onset of monsoon. Analysis of climate trend validated their perceptions. Farmers are convinced that climate change has affected their farming through frequent crop failures and declining crop yield.

CLIMATE change refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or / and as a result of human activity (Anon., 2007a). Climate change is expected to adversely affect agricultural production in India. Adverse effects of climate change continue to be a major threat to rural livelihoods (Anon., 2007a and 2007b). This poses a challenge for developing innovative technologies to improve rural livelihoods and environmental conservation and ensuring adoption of such technologies. Negative impact of extreme events such as floods and droughts are expected to be recurring frequently in developing countries more so in rural and coastal areas (Anon., 2007a). The present study was undertaken to asses fishery based farmers’ perceptions about climate change, its impact and crisis management practices they follow in coastal region of Karnataka. The study was conducted in eight taluks purposively selected from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts of Karnataka. Four villages were randomly chosen from each of the selected taluks and 10 fishery based marginal, small and big farmers were selected from each of the villages by applying proportionate random sampling technique. Thus, totally 240 fishery based farmers from 24 villages were selected for the study. Ex-post-facto research design was followed for the study. Perception is operationalised in the study as the organization, identification and interpretation of sensory

information in order to represent and understand the climate change over a period of time based on their experience. Considering the importance of rainfall, temperature, wind-speed, relative humidity on the climate change, the perception of farmers was assessed in the study. Based on the review of literature and by discussion with experts, 24 statements of climate change were listed covering the precipitation and temperature factors. Each statement was edited carefully to avoid ambiguity and confusion in understanding the meaning intended. The respondents were asked to indicate their responses for each of the statements on three point continuum viz., Agree, somewhat agree and Disagree with a scoring pattern of 2,1 and 0, respectively, if it is correctly perceived by the farmers as per the meteorological data otherwise the scor ing was reversed as 0,1,2, respectively. Data with respect to perception of farmers about changes on rainfall pattern is recorded twice and presented in two time intervals viz., before and after 2005. A cursory look at the Table I reveals that about 77.9 per cent of the farmers opined that there were less number of long dry spells while 61.7 per cent of them opined that, there were no changes in the onset timing of rainfall, 52.9 per cent felt they received more rainfall and 81.7 per cent felt that there was no change in rainfall. About 52 per cent of farmers perceived that the water yield from tube wells was increased, majority (80 %) of farmers opined that there was no

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H. M. VINAYA KUMAR AND M. SHIVAMURTHY

TABLE I Perception of farmers about changes in the rainfall pattern (n=240) Responses Statements

Before 2005 Agree No. (%)

Number of rainy days (>2.5mm) were more 76(31.3) Number of rainy days are less 17(7.1) Amount of rainfall was more 127(52.9) There was changes in the onset timing of rainfall 24(10.0) Long dry spells 8(3.3) There was changes in the rainfall during crop growth period (July - October) 12(5.0) There was changes in the rainfall pattern 8(3.3) Uneven distribution of rain fall 7(2.9) Unpredictable rain fall 15(6.3) Early withdrawal of monsoon 4(1.7) Occurrence of drought was more 5(2.1) Drying of No. of tube wells are more 7(2.9) Digging No. of tube wells is more 25(10.4) Water yield from tube well is increased 125(52.1) Digging No. of tube wells is less 41(17.1) Water yield from tube well is decreased 37(15.4)

After 2005

Somewhat agree No. (%)

Disagree

Agree

Somewhat agree No. (%)

Disagree

No. (%)

No. (%)

129(53.8) 113(47.1) 36(15.0)

35(14.6) 110(45.8) 77(32.1)

77(32.1) 176(73.3) 166(69.2)

84(35.0) 38(15.8) 47(19.6)

79(32.9) 26(10.8) 27(11.3)

68(28.3) 45(18.8)

148(61.7) 187(77.9)

185(77.1) 183(76.3)

46(19.2) 57(23.8)

9(3.8) 0(0.0)

39(16.3) 36(15.0) 45(18.8) 46(19.2) 48(20.0) 43(17.9) 37(15.4) 114(47.5) 73(30.4) 39(16.3) 60(25.0)

189(78.8) 196(81.7) 188(78.3) 179(74.6) 188(78.3) 192(80.0) 196(81.7) 101(42.1) 42(17.5) 160(66.7) 143(59.6)

186(77.5) 192(80.0) 161(67.1) 190(79.2) 180(75.0) 181(75.4) 177(73.8) 200(83.3) 0(0.0) 0(0.0) 138(57.5)

54(22.5) 38(15.8) 79(32,9) 50(20.8) 60(25.0) 59(24.6) 63(26.3) 40(16.7) 70(29.2) 94(39.2) 102(42.5)

0(0.0) 10(4.2) 0(0.0) 0(0.0) 0(0.0) 0(0.0) 0(0.0) 0(0.0) 170(70.8) 144(60.0) 0(0.0)

No. (%)

(Figures in parentheses depicts percentage)

occurrence of drought and 78 per cent of them expressed that there was no early withdrawal of monsoon before 2005. The perception of farmers about changes in rainfall pattern before 2005 is in conformity with meteorological data. Contrary to the perception of rainfall pattern, majority of the farmers (77 %) perceived that there were changes in the onset timing of rainfall, changes in the rainfall pattern during crop growth period and there were changes in the amount and number of rainy days after 2005. Majority (76 %) perceived long dry spells, 69 per cent of them agreed that amount of rainfall and rainy days were less and 75 per cent of the agreed that occurrence of drought was more and low water yield from tube wells. The perception of farmers about changes in rainfall pattern after 2005

was just opposite to the data of meteorological department. The probable reasons for this inspite of increased rainfall after 2005 might be, growing more water intensive crops like horticultural crops instead of food grains in recent years by the farmers, though there was increased rainfall after 2005. Table II shows the classification of farmers based on perception of rainfall pattern before and after 2005. About 42 per cent of farmers perception was better followed by average (31.25 %) and poor (26.67 %) about changes in the rainfall compared to 2005. Majority of farmers (52.08 %) had average and 47 per cent had poor and better level of perception about changes in the rainfall after 2005. Based on the results it could be concluded that more than half of the farmers have perceived changes in rainfall pattern. Chi-square

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PERCEPTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AMONG FISHERY BASED FARMERS

TABLE II Classification of farmers based on perception of changes in rainfall pattern before and after 2005 (n=240) Perception of changes in rainfall Period

Categories

Criteria

Number

value

Per cent

Before 2005 Mean=25.69, SD=2.28

Better Average Poor

>26.83 24.54 – 26.82 26.32 24.15 – 26.31 10.33 8.79 – 10.32 15.68 14.84 – 15.67