Adaptation to Mitigate Climate-Induced Crisis by Farmers in Coastal Zone of Karnataka, India

Introduction: The impact of climate change and responses are presently observed in both physical and socio-ecological system. Farmers’ vulnerability to climate-induced crisis refers to the inability of farm society to withstand adverse impact from multiple stress to which they are exposed due to climate change. However, climate-induced crisis introduced a new way of challenge not only because of an expected rise in temperature, CO2, the rise in sea level, etc. but failed to tackle adaptation strategies due to resource-poor, incompatibility, poor decision-making and incomplete information.

Objective: This paper examines the farmers’ action and adaptation strategies to manage the climate-induced crisis in coastal Karnataka.

Place and Duration of Study: The investigation was conducted in Coastal Karnataka during October 2014 to May 2015.

Study Design: 240 fishery-based farmers from 24 villages have been selected by applying proportionate random sampling technique for the investigation by adopting Ex-post-facto research design.

Results: The mean adaptation behaviour of crisis management groups with farmers’ categories was significantly varied as revealed by F ratios 188.72 and 25.46, respectively and they are observed to be significant at 0.01 level of probability. Also, the critical differences worked out for all the crisis management groups, and farmers categories turned out to be important noting that mean adaptability score group was dissimilar to other groups. There are various potential adaptation options available for climate change; often it varies from place to place, situation to situation, socioeconomic, psychological and other climate-related factors. However, there are limits to their effectiveness, efficiency, and equity. The result shows that their adaptation strategy to cope with the climate-induced crisis and it is important to integrate their local knowledge and wisdom with unnatural situations into the future planning and development process of the coastal belt.

Conclusion: Policies and development of adaptation strategies should not only be a necessity but, also be accepted and adopted by the local community for sustainable development.