Journal of Environmental Biology

Farm level adaptation practices of potato growing farmers in

East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, India

P. Kharumnuid¹*, I.S. Rao², V. Sudharani² and S. Kumar³

¹Division of Social Sciences, Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla-171 001, India

²Division of Agricultural Extension, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad-500 030, India

³Division of Crop Improvement, Central Potato Research Station, Patna-801 506, India

*Corresponding Author E-mail: pynbiang.agri@gmail.com

Key words

Adaptation practices

Climate change

Ex-post facto

Farmer

Potato cultivation

Publication Data

Paper received : 02.05.2017

Revised received : 06.11.2017

Accepted : 05.12.2017

Abstract

Aim: This paper attempted to analyse the adaptation practices of potato farmers against the adverse effects of climate change in Meghalaya state of North East India, their level of adaptation and also the constraints to adoption of adaptation practices.?

Methodology: The ex-post facto research design was selected for the study. The study was conducted in East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya by interviewing 120 potato growers using interview schedule. The level of adaptation of each farmer to climate change was analyzed based on the total score of adaptation of each respondent farmer. The rank of each adaptation practice adopted by respondent farmers was analyzed using Weighted Mean Score. The constraints faced by potato growers to adoption of adaptation practices was identified by asking the respondents and simultaneously recording their responses.

Results: The findings revealed that there were twelve major adaptation practices followed by majority of potato growers. It also revealed that majority of the respondents had medium level of adaptation to climate change. The major constraints in adoption of adaptation practices were lack of quality seeds, price fluctuation in the market, low technical knowledge about improved potato cultivation, lack of efficient transport and marketing facilities, non-availability of production inputs and lack of information about weather and climate.

Interpretation: The study recommended that the farm level adaptation practices followed by famers need to be properly identified, documented, refined and validated before disseminating and integrating them into packages of practices for adaptation to climate change. Furthermore, these practices and adaptation constraints faced by farmers should be taken into account while developing future climate change strategies.

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