Farmers perception on climate change and its impact on agriculture in eastern dry zone of Karnataka

To understand the farmers perception of climate change (rainfall and temperature) and adaptation measures initiated to overcome its ill effects the study was conducted by interviewing 120 farmers in eastern dry zone (Zone 4) of Karnataka. The results of the study revealed that 73.34 per cent of farmers had high perception of changes in rainfall before 2000 and 98.34 per cent of them after 2000. Though the actual documentation of climatic data indicated that there was increase in the rainfall after 2000 farmers perceived that there was a decrease in the rainfall. This trend of perception was due to increased area under water intensive crops and short period of rainy days. However 76.66 per cent farmers were having high level of perception about changes in temperature before 2000 which has increased to 99.16 per cent after the year 2000. All the farmers perceived that there was decrease in yield, income, soil nutrients and increase in cost of cultivation, pests, diseases and weed infestation due to climate change. There was no change in varieties, replacement of crops, early planting, spacing, quantity of seeds and number of irrigations before 2000. However substantial changes occurred in all of the practices after 2000. Noteworthy measures taken up by the farmers include early planting, drip irrigation, farm ponds and increase in number of irrigations for mulberry and rice crops.