Climate Sensitivity on Rainfed Agriculture In Central India: Threats and Opportunities

Based on both primary and secondary data, this paper has assessed the impact of drought on the productivity of principal crops in rainfed situation along with the farmers’ perceptions and the factors influencing adoption of the coping mechanism to mitigate impact of climate change in central India. The study has revealed that climate sensitivity of the rainfed agriculture has magnified, weakening the agricultural productivity over time. The rainfed farmers have been found adopting several coping mechanisms, viz. shifting cropping pattern, mix/intercropping, drought-tolerant crops, technological mitigation, integrated farming system, etc. Experience, farm income, education, and farm-size have been found the significant factors influencing adoption of coping mechanisms for the impact of climate change. The level of farmers’ perception on the impact of climate change was good and they reported reduction in yield and farm income due to erractic rainfall and crop failure. The study has suggested efficient management of natural resources in the rainfed areas to overcome the effect of climate change. Also, the meteorological department must disseminate information about weather well in advance so that farmers may adopt suitable coping mechanisms to climate change impact on crop yield.