Abstract

Climate change is a burning issue and a threat to ensuringfood security in the developing world, including Nepal. The study investigates about climate change and its adaptative measures from farmer’s level. Bardgoriya, Janaki, and Kailari Rural Municipalities of Kailali district were purposively selected for the study. Farm households (180), 60 from each Rural Municipality were selected randomly to obtain the required primary information. The primary data were collected through a household survey and focus group discussion (FGD). The pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule and check-list were used to obtain the information. Most of the farmers perceived climate change as rise in temperature (91.7%), anddecrease in monsoon rainfall (96.1%) and decrease in winter rainfall (87.2%). The majority of farmers opined rainfall frequency decrease (92.2%), erratic rainfall pattern increase (80.6%), and delay in monsoon onset (81.7%). Most of the respondents opined increase in drought frequency (80%) and windstorm occurrence (56.1%), while flood frequency and hailstone occurrence perceived decreasing by 58.9% and 66.1% respectively. Due to climate change farmers’ have been facing increased weed invasion (86.7%),crop water demand (98.3%) and cost of production (83.3%),and decreased soil moisture (84.4%).As a climate change adaptation measure, about 76% of the total respondent households have shifted the planting and harvesting time, 60.6% focused on irrigation management, 60.6% followed mulching practices, 53.3% increased use of chemicals (fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides), and 51.5% changed the crop varieties. The study concludes that, farmers are facing climate change and its adverse impact to the farming, so appropriate climate change adaptation techniques have to be considered in the farming systems

Keywords

Adaptation, climate change, perception