A study on climate change adaptation practices among the farmers of Imphal East District

Introduction

Agriculture is going to be the sector most significantly impacted by climate change (IPCC, 2007) [4] . The official definition provided by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) [6] defines climate change as "a change in the climate that is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity, which alters the composition of the global atmosphere and is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods". Climate change is a natural phenomenon, but human activities have significantly exacerbated it. While the Earth's climate has always experienced variations due to natural factors, the rapid increase in greenhouse gas emissions from activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes has intensified these changes. This human influence has accelerated global warming and magnified the adverse effects on weather patterns, ecosystems, and sea levels. IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report released in 2021, revealed that human activities have already increased global temperatures by nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) compared to the period between 1850 and 1900. It also projects that the global average temperature could reach or surpass 1.5 degrees Celsius (approximately 3 degrees Fahrenheit) within the next few decades. These temperature changes are anticipated to impact every region around the world. Climate change involves significant, long-term shifts in climate patterns, such as temperature and precipitation, occurring over decades or more. Global warming, a key aspect of climate change, refers specifically to the recent rise in Earth's average temperature due to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, essential for warmth but problematic in excess. These changes impact agriculture by altering growing seasons, habitat ranges, and increasing the risk of extreme weather events like droughts and floods (EPA, 2024) [7] . The relationship between climate and agriculture is deeply intertwined with global systems. Even minor fluctuations in climate can have significant negative impacts on agriculture, leading to reduced production rates (Climate change and its impact in Agriculture, MANAGE) 3 . Extreme events, such as floods and heatwaves, will adversely affect agriculture by damaging crops and livestock health, leading to a significant threat to food security like never before (Kumar & Shivamurthy, 2021) [2] . Manipur is a state in northeastern India, which comprises eight states (Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura) and it is www.extensionjournal.com characterized by its diverse topography and climate, which significantly influence its agricultural practices. The state's agriculture is predominantly reliant on the monsoon rains, which provide essential water resources for crop cultivation. However, climate change is increasingly impacting this delicate balance, posing challenges to agricultural productivity and food security. Over the last century, Manipur has seen a rise in temperatures, with minimum temperatures increasing by at least 1.75°C and maximum temperatures by 1.5°C. Additionally, average relative humidity has risen significantly, from (68%) in 1968 to (84%) in 2011. These changes impact agricultural practices, affecting crop growth and water availability. With (57.04%) of the population engaged in agriculture and allied industries, addressing the impacts of climate change on this sector has become critically important. Given that agriculture occupies only (1.04%) of the state's total land area while supporting a significant portion of the population, it is essential to prioritize attention and resources toward enhancing the resilience and sustainability of agriculture in the face of climate change (State climate change cell, Manipur) [1] . The agricultural sector is profoundly impacted by shifting weather conditions, with rainfall being a critical factor influencing agricultural production. In recent years, rainfall patterns have become increasingly erratic, contributing to significant challenges for farmers in Manipur. Adapting to changing weather patterns and adjusting management practices to achieve optimal harvests present ongoing challenges for the agricultural sector. Addressing these issues is crucial for sustaining and enhancing agricultural productivity in the face of evolving climatic conditions.

Methodology

The study was conducted in Imphal East District of Manipur. Ex-facto research design was followed for the present study. Purposive, Multi stage, simple random and proportionate sampling procedure procedures were followed in the present study for the selection of samples. Imphal East District was selected purposively from among the 16 districts of Manipur (as per latest division of the districts in Manipur state) due to its vulnerability to climate change and its upland and foothills terrain. This area is highly susceptible to climate variability, making it a priority for targeted adaptation efforts. There are 3 sub division in Imphal East District of Manipur, out of which Sawombung subdivision was selected randomly for the study. Out of 67 villages in Sawombung sub division, six villages-Yumnam Khunou, Khundrakpam, Keibi Khullen, Pungdongbam, Lamboikhul, and Uyumpok were selected randomly for the present study. A total of 120 respondents were selected from each selected village using the proportionate sampling method.

Method used for data collection

A pre-tested structured interview schedule directed towards the objective of the study was developed for data collection. Both primary and secondary data were collected. After fostering a positive relationship with the selected respondents, the questions and statements were presented in Manipuri to ensure they were understood clearly. The collected data from the respondents were scored, tabulated and analyzed to calculate frequency, percentage and correlation (using statistical tools).

Data statistical analysis

The data collected through the schedule were to coded, organized into tables, analyzed, and presented in a manner that makes the findings clear and easy to understand using various statistical methods to draw logical conclusions. The software used for data analysis included SPSS (22.0) and MS Excel. The statistical techniques (arithmetic mean, frequency and percentage) were utilized in the present study to classify and categorize the respondents into different groups based on the nature of the data.

Results and Discussion

The data presented in Table-1 shows that more than half of the total respondent 51.67 percent belonged to the middle age group (35-55 years) which was followed by 35.00 percent and thirteen percent 13.33 percent of the respondents belonged to old aged group (>55 years) and young aged group (<34 years) respectively. It was observed that majority of the respondent 24.17 percent belonged to the upper primary (up to class VIII) followed by higher secondary (up to class X) 19.17 percent, high school (up to class X) 20.00 percent, primary school (up to class V) 16.67 percent, can read only 6.67 percent, under graduate 5.83 percent, illiterate 4.16 percent, can read and write3.33 percent, and there was not a single respondent who had PG level of education. It was evident that majority of the respondents belonged to medium income group 60.84 percents of (below Rs. 1,00,000) followed by low income group 25.83 percent of (Rs. 81000-Rs.2,00,000) and high income group 13.33 percent of (Rs. 2,00,000) above respectively. The table above revealed that majority of the respondents about sixty nine percent 69.16 percent were marginal (less than or equal to 1 hectare or 2.5 acres and it was followed by twenty two percent 22.50 percent of small (greater than 2.5 Acres or 1 hectare &less than or equal to 5 acres or 2 hectares) and eight percent 8.34 percent of big (Greater than 5 Acres or 2 hectares). It was found that majority of the respondent 45.84 percent have high (20years & above) followed by average (10-20 years) 27.50 percent and low (1-10 years) of experience respectively. It was depicted that majority of the respondents have low training received on how to adapt climate change 79.16 percent followed by medium training received 12.50 percent and low high training received 8.34 percent. It indicated that majority of the respondents had medium exposure 47.50 percent followed by low exposer 30.84 percent and high exposure 21.66 percent. It was revealed majority of the respondents had medium level 72.50 percent followed by low level 16.67 percent and high level 10.83 percent of knowledge about local agro-climatic respectively. www.extensionjournal.com :2 depicts that 58.34 percent "know" something on change in increase summer temperature. It shows that 60 percent "know" something on shorter temperature. From Table :2, majority of the respondent 47.50 percent "know" something on increase drought. In climatic variable "decrease rainfall quantity" majority of the respondents 50.83 percent "strongly know". It was also revealed that majority of the respondents 46.66 percent "know" something on climatic variable "frequent flood". The table reveals that 40 percent of the respondents response "no change" on climatic variable "decrease soil fertility". It shows that 50 percent "know" on climatic variable "unpredictable rainfall". The result obtained that a 60 percent "strongly know" on "increase heatwave in summer". The results depicted that 44.16 percent "know" on climatic variable "increase for intensity in winter". It shows that 42.5 percent "know" on climatic variable "hailstorm".

Table 2: Distribution of respondents according to their knowledge on climate change based on given variables.

Sl.no. Climatic variables

Strongly Know on change in climatic variables

Know something on change in climatic variables

Undecided on change in climatic variables

Don't know on change in climatic variables (But tries to understand)

No change/ Strongly don't know on change in climatic variables

Adaptive measures taken by the respondents

This section focuses on identifying the adaptation strategies employed by farmers to mitigate the impact of climate change on agriculture. The study highlights several commonly adopted climate change adaptation practices, including: Crop diversification, crop rotation, resistant varieties, use of crop residues, water management, mulching, organic manure, adjusting sowing/planting time, climate resilient crop, short duration crop, intercropping, change in crop cultivar, new nutrient management practices, agroforestry, and cover crops. The adaptation levels are categorized for each practices as 'full adaptation' indicates respondents who are fully aware of the benefits of the practices and actively use them to mitigate the effects of climate change, 'partial adaptation' indicates respondents who have partial knowledge of the benefits or experimenting with the practices on a trial basis to determine their effectiveness in mitigating climate change, and 'no adaptation' indicates respondents who have no knowledge of the practices and no understanding of how they might be used to address climate change.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that the socio-economic profile of the respondents, more than half of the total respondents (51.67%) belonged to the 'middle aged' group (35-55 years), majority of the respondents (23.33%) belonged to the upper primary (up to class VIII), most of the respondents belonged to medium income group (60.84%) of below Rs.

References

1. Directorate of Environment & Climate Change, Government of Manipur. Agriculture and its allied sectors [Internet]. [cited 2024 Aug 2]. Available from: https://ccmanipur.mn.gov.in/en/blog/11/17/
2. Kumar S, Sidana BK. Farmers' perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change in Punjab agriculture. Indian J Agric Sci. 2018;88(10):1573-81.
3. National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE). Climate change and its impact on agriculture [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jul 27]. Available from: https://www.manage.gov.in/studymaterial/CCA-E.pdf
4. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Climate change widespread, rapid, and intensifying [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Jul 3]. Available from: https://www.ipcc.ch/2021/08/09/ar6-wg1-20210809-pr/
5. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Article 1 Definitions [Internet]. 1992 [cited 2024 Aug 5]. Available from: https://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/backgroun d_publications_htmlpdf/application/pdf/conveng.pdf
6. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Agriculture and climate [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2024 Jul 18]. Available from: https://www.epa.gov/agriculture/agriculture-andclimate