PERCEPTIONS OF POTATO GROWERS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND THEIR ADAPTATION STRATEGIES: EVIDENCE OF FIELD LEVEL STUDY IN AGRA DISTRICT OF UTTAR PRADESH

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Assessment of potato farmers’ perception concerning climate change and its impacts on potato cultivation is crucial for developing future adaptation and mitigation strategies. A farm-level survey was conducted by interviewing 94 potato growers of Agra district in Uttar Pradesh, which has the largest acreage under potato, using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. The study revealed that majority of farmers perceived delayed onset and earlier end of rainy season; more occurrence of dry spell, intensity of heatwave, foggy days, flood, drought and storm; lesser occurrence of monsoon rain, winter rainfall, off-season rain, pre-monsoon rain; increase in summer temperature and shorter duration of winter season. Mainstream noticed a decrease in productivity of potato and other crops, depletion of the water table, and a lower duration of water availability in ponds. They also observed an increase in the incidence of weeds, pests, diseases, and the cost of cultivation and shortening of potato season. Current adaptation strategies adopted by few potato growers to minimize the impact of climate change on their livelihood are crop insurance, changes in planting time of potato and inclusion of other crops in sequence, crop diversification, integrated farming system, mixed cropping, adoption of improved varieties, water conservation practices, and integrated pest and disease management. The study also found that though farmers are aware of and have knowledge about adaptation strategies, they could not adopt them due to barriers like lack of institutional support. This study suggests that suitable policies and adaptation strategies should be devised for the study area as well as in other regions with similar agro-ecology.