Factors associated with farm-level variation, and farmers' perception and climate change adaptation in smallholder mixed-farming livestock production system in Nepal

Abstract

To identify factors associated with farm-level variability, to understand farmers' perception on climate change impacts, and to assess livestock climate change adaptation, a full-fledged household survey was launched in May 2012 in the Thulokhola watershed of Nuwakot district in Nepal. Factors identified for farm-level variation included land holding size and land types (irrigated, non-irrigated), male and female labours in a household, number of goats and cattle owned, fodder and forages, forest products utilised, number of animal grazing days, and income diversification. Drought conditions, erratic rain events, livestock diseases and parasites, decreasing pregnancy rate in animals, fodder and water shortages, and forest degradation were major climate change impacts in this watershed. To cope with these impacts, farmers have practiced introducing new animal breeds, stall feeding, planting grasses, storing feed for feed shortage months, purchasing feed, constructing ponds, and installing pipelines for water supply. However, they are limited and lacking scientific rigors.