Measures of livelihoods and their effect on vulnerability of farmers to climate change: evidence from coastal and non-coastal regions in India

Agriculture-based livelihoods, dominant in rural areas of developing countries, have been facing the challenges to cope up with climate change and extreme climatic events. Therefore, livelihood analysis along with vulnerability to climate change is an important aspect to address the climate change issues. Present research was contemplated to assess the livelihood status of dominant farm livelihood groups and their vulnerability in both coastal and non-coastal ecosystems of Odisha, an Indian state that suffers from climate-induced natural disasters. It also aimed to delineate livelihood assets determining climatic vulnerability of farm households. Sustainable livelihood framework was followed in analysing differential level of physical, social, human, financial and natural assets covering a random sample of 200 farm households representing three dominant farm livelihood groups, viz. farmers cultivating crops, rearing livestock and farmers occupied with both crop + livestock farming. The farmers under study were the beneficiaries of national innovations in climate-resilient agriculture programme launched by Indian council of agricultural research since 2011. Both crop and livestock farmers belonged to similar level of livelihood with no significant differences. Farmers engaged in crop + livestock farming had overall livelihood status at above average level and social assets contributing highest to it. However, farmers engaged in crop + livestock farming significantly differed from both crop and livestock farmers with livelihood status index values of 51.73 and 62.72 in coastal and non-coastal districts, respectively. The livelihood indicators delineated as determinants of vulnerability of farm households to climate change would help in climate policy advocacy regarding institutional innovations. Climate smart technological and institutional innovations, partnership between the stakeholders and diversified livelihood options provide farm households better resilience to climate change as reflected from lower vulnerability index values in coastal regions. This calls for policy advocacy to designing and deploying climate smart socio-technical innovations bundling in terms of both technological and institutional innovations through good partnership to provide farm households diversified livelihood options and better insulation against the vulnerability to climate change in a specific agro-ecosystem. Government support in terms of financial assistance, subsidies, insurance, extension advisories and adequate institutional infrastructure would enable farmers to adopting climate smart agriculture innovations, building sustainable livelihoods and improving resilience to climate change impacts.