Consequences of Climatic Crises in Bundelkhand Region and Potential Interventions

Study was conducted among 350 farmers spread across all the seven districts of Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. Interactions with sampled farmers was made in group utilizing the checklist and semi-structured interview schedule. The main objectives of the study were to analyze the prevailing climatic crises and its consequences and also to suggest the potential, long term and short term interventions. Findings of the study revealed that during last few years (2005–07), the pattern of rainfall has shown tremendous fluctuation, both in terms of quantity and distribution of precipitation. Not only the amount of rainfall has reduced immensely (upto 50%), the pattern of rain is also shifting to the non-beneficial period i.e. Febuary-March. The dwindling rainfall in the region has lead to manifold dysfunctional implications. On one hand, declined rainfall during kharif has reduced the soil moisture availability for the rabi crops and on the other the non-beneficial rain during February-March has affected the standing crop adversely leading to either the complete destruction of the crop or reduced production level in rabi. The constantly reducing rainfall during the last few years has also caused considerable decline in the under groundwater level. Based on the identified crises, some of the potential interventions both short term and long term have been suggested.