Climate change effect & farmers adaptation strategies in turmeric cultivation in Thoubal district of Manipur

Abstract

Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change because it is one of the sectors hardest to hit by adverse climate conditions. In addition, as climate change is influencing turmeric and output of turmeric is declining. Adaptation strategies to cope up with the climate change and the related impacts have drawn a considerable attention. This research was carried out to study the observed climate change effects in turmeric by the sample turmeric farmers, to identify the farmers adaptation strategies on climate change followed by turmeric farmers. Data for the study were collected from 111 turmeric growing farmers through personal interview. The total research sampling was done purposively. The changes in climatic variables have visible impacts on turmeric crop such as decreased rhizome formation, increased life span etc. The study found that only 88 farmers were using adaptation strategies and 23 farmers were not adopting anything in accordance with the climate change. Farmers observed there is a decrease in around 25% of productivity in turmeric. It is shown that majority of the farmers having medium level of adaption of adaptation strategies (44.14%) followed by low level (35.14%) and high level (20.72%) of adaption of adaptation strategies in turmeric cultivation.