Impact of Climatic and Non-climatic Factors on Sustainable Livelihood Security in Gujarat State of India: A Statistical Exploration

The present study estimates the district-wise sustainable livelihood security index (SLSI) in Gujarat using Composite Z-score technique during 2000-2011. It considers SLSI as an integrated index of ecological security index (ESI), economic efficiency index (EEI) and social equity index (SEI). Accordingly, it applies linear and non-linear regression models to measure the impact of different climatic factors (i.e., maximum temperature, minimum temperature and precipitation) in winter, spring, summer and autumn seasons on SLSI, ESI, EEI and SEI. It shows that SLSI, ESI, EEI and SEI are varied across districts due to high diversity in socio-economic and ecological factors, and climatic change in Gujarat. Empirical results based on linear and non-linear regression models imply that climatic factors in different weather seasons have a negative and significant impact on SLSI, ESI, EEI and SEI. So, sustainable livelihood security (SLS) would be in an alarming position due to climate change, urbanization, population growth and industrialization in Gujarat. Thus, policy makers need to adopt an effective and conducive policy to mitigate the adverse effects of those factors which have a negative impact on sustainable livelihood security. Hence, this study provides several practical and viable policy suggestions to increase the SLS in Gujarat and other Indian states.