Impact of climate variability on crop yield in Kalahandi, Bolangir, and Koraput districts of Odisha, India

Abstract

Most tropical regions in the world are vulnerable to climate variability, given their dependence on rain-fed agricultural production and limited adaptive capacity owing to socio-economic conditions. The Kalahandi, Bolangir, and Koraput districts of the south-western part of Odisha province of India experience an extreme sub-humid tropical climate. Based on the observed changes in the magnitude and distribution of rainfall and temperature, this study evaluates the potential impact of climate variation on agricultural yield and production in these districts. The study is conducted by taking into account meteorological data like rainfall and temperature from 1980 to 2017 and crop productivity data from 1980-81 to 2016-17. Additionally, climate variability indices like Monsoon Index, Oceanic Nino Index, and NINO-3 and NINO 3.4 are used. To analyse the data, various statistical techniques like correlation and multiple linear regression are used. The amount of monsoon rainfall is found to have a significant impact on crop productivity, compared to temperature, in the study area, and as a result the Monsoon Index has a determining impact on crop yield among various indices.