Perceived effects of climate change on crop-livestock farming system in the murrah buffalo breeding tracts of Haryana

Perception is the act of being aware of one’s surroundings through sensory experiences, and it indicates a person’s ability to understand. Farmers perceptions are considered to be crucial for adaptation so an attempt was made to study the perception levels of farmers on climate change and its impact on crop-livestock farming. The current study was carried out in Hisar, Jind and Rohatk districts of Haryana. Primary data was collected from 360 respondents through well structured interview schedule. Findings revealed that around two fifth of the respondents had higher level of perception on climate change and its impacts. Largely perceived components were increasing temperatures and temperature humidity index, reduced feed intake and increased water intake, decreased milk production during heat stress, change in current management practices, change in feeding pattern of animals, profuse sweating, open mouth breathing(panting) during severe heat stress, high infestation of parasites, tics, mites etc., increased incidence of anestrous and low conception rates due to heat stress and change in crop calendar and increasing pest and disease infestation.