Climate Change and Farmers’ Livelihood Status in the Semi-Arid Eastern Plain of Rajasthan, India
Devi Lal Jat *
Department of Agricultural Economics, RNT College of Agriculture, Kapasan, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan-312202, India.
Bharath Kumar Mannepalli
Department of Agricultural Economics, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P.-221005, India.
Hemraj Bodlya
Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner, Rajasthan-334006, India.
Tikam Das Vaishnav
Department of Horticulture, RNT College of Agriculture, Kapasan, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan-312202, India.
Prakhar Deep
Department of Agricultural Economics, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P.-221005, India.
Ankit Yadav
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Rajiv Gandhi University (A Central University), Rono Hills, Doimukh, Arunachal Pradesh – 791112, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Farming households in semi-arid Rajasthan depend substantially on rain-fed agriculture and are exposed to variations in temperature, rainfall and humidity. This study assessed farmers’ livelihood status and examined its relationship with climate-related and socio-economic variables in the Semi-arid Eastern Plain of Rajasthan.
Methods: Primary data were collected through structured interviews with 120 farmers from the Kekri and Sarwar blocks of Ajmer district and the Jobner and Sambhar Lake blocks of Jaipur district. Secondary temperature, rainfall and relative humidity records for 1992–2023 were obtained from the India Meteorological Department. A Livelihood Assessment Index (LAI) was developed using five dimensions of the Sustainable Livelihood Framework: human, natural, social, physical and financial capital. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used for analysis.
Results: The study reported an overall LAI of 0.7976, with a higher score in Ajmer (0.8175) than in Jaipur (0.7778). Human and natural capital were relatively strong, whereas financial capital was the weakest dimension. Temperature change, rainfall pattern and humidity levels had statistically significant negative regression coefficients. Livestock ownership showed a small positive coefficient, with a p-value of 0.0505.
Conclusion: The findings indicate differences in livelihood resources between the two districts and associations between climate-related variables and livelihood status. Water conservation, livestock support, improved access to formal credit and strengthened agricultural extension services are relevant adaptation priorities.
Keywords: Climate change, livelihood status, livelihood assessment index, sustainable livelihood framework, semi-arid agriculture, Rajasthan