Adaptations to Climate Variability and Agrarian Crisis in Kolar District, Karnataka, India
B.N. Krishnakanth and B.C. Nagaraja
The dynamics in climatic variability is prominently affecting the agriculture system, particularly the small and marginal land holding farmers in arid and semi-arid regions which are highly vulnerable. The present study in Kolar district assessed the variability scale and dynamics of rainfall over the decades, it revealed the current day’s agrarian crisis, resulting in impacts on farmers and adaptations by farmers to changing situations. The study also reveals that over the decades there has been a considerable variation in rainfall pattern in the study area but there was no significant average rainfall variation till the last decade, after which there was a significant seasonal variation that directly affects the sowing pattern and associated agricultural practices. The exploitation of groundwater for water-intensive commercial crops has increased rapidly from the past decade that resulted in the critically depleted groundwater table. To meet the livelihood demands some farmers were observed to have shifted to non-agricultural occupations. It is a serious threat at this point of time as the agriculture output has to be fed to the larger portion of the society and decreased output from agriculture eventually leads to inflation. So, it is very crucial to adapt all possible measures to retain farmers in agriculture practice. Hence, understanding and scientific assessment of the risks associated with the changing climate and its variables is the need of the hour, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions which are going to be highly vulnerable. Studies like this will help in policy-making and management planning to cope up with the dynamic climatic factors.
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