What drives farmers to adopt farm-level adaptation practices to climate extremes: Empirical evidence from Odisha, India

Abstract

Odisha is frequently affected by climate extremes such as cyclones and floods. In response, farmers take various adaptation measures to minimise the negative economic impact of these extreme events. The present study analyses the current adaptation strategies of the farm households and the inputs from the analysis can potentially help the future policies aimed at scaling up adaptation strategies to be more effective. A survey of 285 farm households was conducted in three cyclone- and flood-prone districts of Odisha. The study identifies various farm-level adaptation measures and their determinants. The determinants were agricultural extension, access to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, received crop loss compensation and access to informal credit. It is concluded that the adaptation policy and investment decisions should take into account these determinants in order to enhance the adaptive capacity of the rural farmers in the cyclone- and flood-prone regions of the state.