Assessment of Impact, Vulnerability, and Farm Households’ Adaptation in the Context of Climate Change: A Study on Six Agro-Climatic Zones of Assam, India

This study investigates the impact of climate change on farm households across six agro-climatic zones of Assam, India, characterized by diverse topographies and climate-related challenges. The zones, ranging from flood-prone areas to hilly terrains, experience unique climate-related stresses, including floods, droughts, and soil erosion. To develop region-specific strategies, this research identifies the determinants of adaptive management practices employed by farmers in response to these climate-related challenges. The study reveals that Assam is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, including erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events. To mitigate these effects, farmers have adopted various adaptation measures, which are analyzed to understand their effectiveness in coping with climate change in Assam. The research area comprises six districts from each agro-climatic zone. The study found that the majority of farmers remain heavily reliant on the monsoon, as evidenced by the limited attention given to their choices in adopting irrigation facilities, with only 30 percent of the surveyed farmers implementing this strategy. A total of nine factors influencing adaptation strategies were assessed using a binary logistic model (BLM) or regression analysis. More than 86 percent of farmers in the study area reported having experienced climate change over the last 30 years. Furthermore, farmers’ awareness and perceptions regarding alterations in rainfall and temperature revealed that a considerable number acknowledged fluctuations in rainfall; however, in relation to temperature, they observed an increase only in the past three years, attributing this rise primarily to increasing relative humidity as a significant factor.