Understanding Farmers' Perceptions and Adaptations to Climate Change and Variability in Rice Production at the Kaski and Chitwan Districts, Nepal

Abstract

This study was conducted to access perception of farmers about climate change particularly to access the effect of climatic variables on yield of rice crops based on regression model for 1999-2013 climatic data and yield data. The other objective include to learn adaptation strategies to climate change and assess factor influencing adaptation strategies adopted by farmers in hill (Kaski) and terai (Chitwan) of Nepal. Primary data were obtained through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and field survey. Descriptive statistics, time series regression model, logit model and seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) model were used. About 87.5 percent of the respondent perceived the change in weather parameter such as temperature and rainfall. A majority of respondents (96%) perceived the increase in temperature and 83% respondents from Kaski perceived decreasing rainfall trend whereas about 86% respondents from Chitwan perceived increasing rainfall trend. The major climate change adaptation strategies used by the respondents include; rice variety change (61%), better irrigation management (59%), changing cropping pattern (43%), terrace improvement (37%) and direct seeded rice (DSR) adoption (23%) in the study area. The SUR model revealed that age, education, household income were positively and statistically significant on different climate change adaptation strategies for rice cultivation. Time series regression model reveled that total seasonal rainfall for rice cultivation had positively and significantly determined to rice production area, production and yield, but total annual rainfall had negative determination on area, production and yield of rice. Empirical results analysis showed that improved crop varieties and irrigation as the most important adaptation measures. It also revealed that farmers lacked the capacity to implement the highly ranked adaptation practices. Results revealed that farmers facing negative impact of climate change due to low household income and lack of information on adaptation methods. This analysis of adaptation practices and constraints at farmer level will help facilitate government policy formulation and implementation.