Constraints Faced by Farmers in Adapting to Climate Change in North Bihar

Raj Lakshmi; V. K Singh; D. K Singh; Vavilala Priyanka; Monu Kumar

doi:10.48165/IJEE.2025.614RN06

Authors

Raj Lakshmi Ph.D Research scholar in Agricultural Extension and Communication in SVPUAT , Modipuram
V.K Singh Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, SVPUAT, Meerut, U P, India.
D. K Singh Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, SVPUAT, Meerut, U P, India.
Vavilala Priyanka PhD Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, SVPUAT, Meerut, U P, India.
Monu Kumar PhD Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, SVPUAT, Meerut, U P, India.

https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2025.614RN06

Keywords:

Constraints, Climate change, Garrett Ranking, Adaptation, Variability, Climate resilient

Abstract

The study was conducted in 2025 in North Bihar to investigate the challenges faced by farmers in adapting to climate change. Districts Darbhanga and Sitamarhi were purposively chosen on the basis of high vulnerability to climate change. To analyze the constraints faced by farmers, 192 respondents were selected randomly from selected villages. Farmers were surveyed through personal interviews, and data were analyzed using Garrett’s ranking technique to prioritize the constraints hindering adaptation to climate change. The constraints were divided into four categories, i.e., socio-personal constraints, institutional constraints, technical constraints, and financial constraints. The analysis revealed that socio-personal constraints, such as small size fragmented landholdings, and increasing labour scarcity, whereas institutional constraints such as lack of accurate and timely information about weather forecast and poor extension service on climate risk management were major constraints faced by farmers in adapting to climate change in north Bihar. Furthermore, the highly dependent nature of farmers on the monsoon and the lack of training on climate-smart agriculture practices were ranked as major technical constraints, whereas the high cost of inputs and the non-availability of timely inputs were financial constraints faced by farmers.

Author Biographies

V.K Singh, Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, SVPUAT, Meerut, U P, India.

Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, SVPUAT, Meerut, U P, India.
D. K Singh, Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, SVPUAT, Meerut, U P, India.

Professor, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, SVPUAT, Meerut, U P, India.
Vavilala Priyanka, PhD Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, SVPUAT, Meerut, U P, India.

PhD Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, SVPUAT, Meerut, U P, India.
Monu Kumar, PhD Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, SVPUAT, Meerut, U P, India.

PhD Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension Education, SVPUAT, Meerut, U P, India.

References

Adhikari, S., Sara, R., & Sandesh, T. (2022). Assessment of status of climate change and determinants of people’s awareness to climate-smart agriculture: a case of Sarlahi District, Nepal. Advances in Agriculture, 2022(2), 1-9.

Ashoka,N., M. Harshavardhan., Shivanand Hongal, Shankar Meti, R. Raju, Ganeshgouda I. Patil, & N.Shashidhara. (2022). Farmers’ Acuity on Climate Change in Central Dry Zone of Karnataka. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 58(3), 136-141.

Bharat, Chapke, R.R., & Kammar, S. (2022). Farmers’ perception about climate change and response and response strategies. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 58(1), 7-11.

Brar, H.S., Sharma, A., & Gill, J.S. (2020). Adaptation strategies being followed by paddy growers towards climate change in Punjab state. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 56(3), 107-110.

Chouksey, R., Singh, K.C., Singh, C., & Birle, Y. (2020). Adaptation of Farmers Regarding Climate Resilient Technologies in Rewa Block of Rewa District in Madhya Pradesh. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 57(1), 26-31.

Ghanghas B.S., Shehrawat P.S., & Nain M.S. (2015). Knowledge of extension professionals regarding impact of climate change in agriculture. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 51(3&4),125-129.

Gupta, S.K., Gorai, S., & Nain M.S.(2020).Methodologies for constraints analysis, Journal of Extension Systems, 36(2),22-27. http://doi.org/10.48165/JES.2020.36205

IPCC. (2007). Climate Change 2007: Fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.

Kumar Sunil, Nain M. S., Sangeetha V. & Satyapriya (2023). Determinants and Constraints for Adoption of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) practices in farmer field school, Indian Journal of Extension Education, 59(4), 135-140. https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2023.59427

Mishra, A., Malik, J.S., Chikkalaki, A.S., Ram Niwas, & Bhavesh. (2024). A comparative study of knowledge level of climate smart agricultural practices (CSAP) among paddy farmers in eastern Haryana. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 60(3), 77-82.

Mishra, A., Malik, J.S., & Bhavesh. (2024). Constraints faced by paddy farmers in adoption of climate smart agriculture practices: A comparative study. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 60(2) ,95-99.

Naik, B. M., Singh, A.K., & Maji, M. (2022). Constraints in adoption of climate resilient agriculture technologies in Telangana. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 58(4), 163-165.

Namdeo, S., Gupta, S., Tomar, A., & Jatav, H.R. (2023). Constraints encountered by farmers in adapting climate resilient practices in Madhya Pradesh. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 5(4), 1-10.

Ravikumar, K., Nain, M.S., Singh, R., Chahal, V.P., & Bana, R. S. (2015). Analysis of farmers’ communication network and factors of knowledge regarding agro metrological parameters. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 85(12), 1592-1596.

Roy, B., & Jha, M. (2023). Problem faced in marketing of agriculture products in Bihar. International Journal of Research in Marketing Management and Sales, 5(1), 65-68.

Saha, M.K., Biswas, A.A.A., Faisal, M., Meandad, J., Ahmed, R., Prokash, J., & Sakib, F. M. (2019). Factors affecting to adoption of climate-smart agriculture practices by coastal farmers’ in Bangladesh. American Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 4(4), 113-121.

Sattar, A., Kumar, M., Singh, N.K., Jha, R.K., Singh, G., & Bal,S.K. (2021). Agroclimatic Atlas of Bihar, RPCAU, Pusa(Samastipur), Bihar pp . 194.

Shelar, R., Singh, A.K., & Maji, S. (2022). Constraints in adapting the climate change in Konkan region of Maharashtra. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 58(1), 169-171.

Singh, S.K., Singh, K.M., Singh, R.K.P., Kumar, A., & Kumar, U. (2014). Impact of rainfall on agriculture production in Bihar: A zone- wise analysis. Environment & Ecology, 32(4A), 1571-1576.

Singh, R.K.P., Singh, K.M., & Kumar, A. (2015). A study on adoption of modern agricultural technologies at farm level in Bihar. Economic Affairs, 60(1), 49-57.

Singh, H.C., Verma, A.K., Patel, R.R., & Prajapati, C.S. (2023). Constraints perceived by the farmers regarding opportunity and challenges of climate smart agriculture in central plain zone of Uttar Pradesh, India. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 13(10), 4366-4372.

Singh, V.K., Pratibha, G., Prasad, J.V.N.S., Pankaj, P. K., Amarendra Kumar, Anjani Kumar, Prabhakar, M., Srinivas, I., Prasad, T.V., Rajbir Singh, Gautam, U.S & Chaudhari, S.K. (2024). Promising Climate Resilient Technologies for Bihar. ICAR- Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad. P113.

Shanabhoga, M.B., Bommaiah, K., Suresha, S.V., & Dechamma, S. (2020). Adaptation strategies by paddy–growing farmers to mitigate the climate crisis in Hyderabad-Karnataka region of Karnataka state, India. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 12(5), 541-556.

Shanabhoga,M.B., Krishnamurthy, B., Suresha, S.V., Shivani, D., & Kumar, V.R. (2023). Climate change adaptation constraints among paddy growing farmers in Kalyana-Karnataka region of Karnataka state. Indian Journal of Extension Education,59(2),124-127.

Subramanian, R., & Shivananjappa, S. (2017). Investigation on the problems faced by the farmers in obtaining and repayment of agricultural credit in Karaikal District, India. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Science, 6(11), 3966-3971.

Vijayabhinandana, B., Asha, R., & Kumar, B. S. N. S. G. (2022). Adaptation methods practiced by farmers in response to perceived climate change in Andhra Pradesh. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 58(2), 81-85.