Perception of Paddy and wheat growers towards climate change in Punjab agriculture

This paper assesses how farmer perceive climate change and its effects and consequences on Punjab agriculture. The primary data was collected from 200 farmers for the year 2016-17 from different agro-climatic zones of Punjab. The results revealed that more than three-fourth (83.5 % in Kharif and 93 % in Rabi) of the respondents perceived that temperature is higher than in the past and 77 per cent farmers perceived decrease in seasonal rainfall. The quality of grain of paddy and wheat as been affected by of climate change was perceived by 61.50 per cent of the respondents and a meager number (1.50 %) disagreed with the statement. To study the reasons and consequences of climate change, Garrett ranking method was applied which revealed that deforestation was the major reason with top rank with 7.01 Garrett's score followed by more use of fossil fuel (6.17 Garrett's score). Among various implications of climate change, the human health being affected got the top rank with 6.82 Garrett's score.