Analysis of factors influencing the adaptation behavior of small-scale farmers towards a climate change in India

Barbora Mikešová

Bachelor's thesis

Abstract:

Droughts, expected to occur more frequently in India due to climate change, can immediately threaten the food security and nutrition of small-scale farmers who depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Limited resources, technologies, and information make these farmers particularly vulnerable to drought impacts. Addressing climate change effects on agriculture and supporting small-scale farmers' resilience is crucial for food security in India. In addition to environmental challenges, sustainable agricultural practices are essential to achieve improved agricultural productivity and food security for smallholder farmers in India. Crop diversification, conservation agriculture and agroforestry are among the most promoted and widely adopted practice. Given the vast area of India categorizing chosen states into different vulnerability levels based on a vulnerability index allows for the identification of the most vulnerable regions and facilitates the analysis of study outcomes. To gain a deeper understanding of Indian farmers' behaviour in adoption to climate change, in proposed framework the capacity to participate is captured as an interplay of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence their participation objectives, decision outcomes, and potential for future reinforcement or reversal. Among Indian quantitative studies focusing on the analysis of factors influencing smallholder farming behaviour over the past 15 years. Farmers' education and experience in farming, use of extension services and access to irrigation were the most commonly influential.

Keywords

smallholder farmers, agricultural practices, environmental sustainability, socioeconomic factors

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 18. 4. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 26. 5. 2023
• Supervisor: Ing. Tereza Pilařová, Ph.D.
• Reader: William Nkomoki, Ing. Ing.

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Bachelor programme:
Tropical Agriculture