Farmers’ Perception of Climate Change and Livelihood Vulnerability in Rainfed Regions of India: A Gender-environment Perspective
Surendra Singh *
ICAR- National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research, New Delhi, India.
Alka Singh
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study has attempted to investigate the nature and magnitude of livelihood vulnerability in the Bundelkhand region, India. A multistage sampling technique has been used to select study sites and collect farm-level data of 200 households using a well-structured and pre-tested schedule. The findings revealed that female-headed households are relatively more exposed to changing climate than are the male headed households. Due to the lack of basic amenities and common-pool resources, the livelihood vulnerability score was highest for female-headed households. Therefore, to improve the livelihood security of vulnerable households’ measures like identifying vulnerable groups, providing innovative, practical and easy to use methods to visualize the extent and dimensions of livelihood vulnerability are imminent. The framework used to analyze and identify specific interventions would help in building livelihood resilience for the most vulnerable people within a community.
Keywords: Indicator approach, vulnerability, rainfed agriculture, livelihood security, gender perspective