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Climate change-induced hazards and local adaptations in agriculture: a study from Koshi River Basin, Nepal

Author

Listed:
  • Abid Hussain

    (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD))

  • Golam Rasul

    (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD))

  • Bidhubhusan Mahapatra

    (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
    Population Council)

  • Shahriar Wahid

    (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
    Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO))

  • Sabarnee Tuladhar

    (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD))

Abstract

Changes in climate, associated hazards, local adaptations in agriculture, and socioeconomic factors affecting adaptation were investigated using data from a large survey of 2310 households (HHs) in the Koshi River Basin (KRB), Nepal. More than 80% of HHs had perceived changes in climate in the 10 years preceding the survey, and 20–40% had perceived increases in the occurrence of droughts, dry spells, floods, and livestock diseases. Around 36–45% of crop-growing HHs perceived a decline in the production of staple crops such as paddy, wheat, maize, and millets, which was mainly attributed to climate change and related hazards. The decline in local food production meant that HH dependence on external sources for food had increased. Only 32% of HHs had taken some form of adaptive actions in agriculture to address these challenges; actions included not planting certain crops, introducing new crops, changing farming practices, not rearing certain livestock species, and investing in irrigation. The factors affecting the likelihood of a household undertaking adaptive actions included literacy of the head of household, household size, size of owned agricultural land, diversification of income sources, and insurance. Based on these findings, the study has suggested some approaches in the KRB which could contribute to building agricultural resilience to climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Abid Hussain & Golam Rasul & Bidhubhusan Mahapatra & Shahriar Wahid & Sabarnee Tuladhar, 2018. "Climate change-induced hazards and local adaptations in agriculture: a study from Koshi River Basin, Nepal," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 91(3), pages 1365-1383, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:91:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s11069-018-3187-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-018-3187-1
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    2. Sikha Karki & Paul Burton & Brendan Mackey & Clair Alston-Knox, 2021. "Status and drivers of food insecurity and adaptation responses under a changing climate among smallholder farmers households in Bagmati Province, Nepal," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(10), pages 14642-14665, October.
    3. Abid Hussain & Faisal Mueen Qamar & Lipy Adhikari & Asif Iqbal Hunzai & Atta ur Rehman & Kosar Bano, 2021. "Climate Change, Mountain Food Systems, and Emerging Opportunities: A Study from the Hindu Kush Karakoram Pamir Landscape, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-21, March.
    4. Amit Kumar Basukala & Livia Rasche, 2022. "Model-Based Yield Gap Assessment in Nepal’s Diverse Agricultural Landscape," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-25, August.
    5. Elisabeth Simelton & Tuan Minh Duong & Ella Houzer, 2021. "When the “Strong Arms” Leave the Farms—Migration, Gender Roles and Risk Reduction in Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-30, April.
    6. Basanta Paudel & Zhaofeng Wang & Yili Zhang & Mohan Kumar Rai & Pranesh Kumar Paul, 2021. "Climate Change and Its Impacts on Farmer’s Livelihood in Different Physiographic Regions of the Trans-Boundary Koshi River Basin, Central Himalayas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-18, July.
    7. Douglas James Merrey & Abid Hussain & Deepak Dorje Tamang & Bhuwan Thapa & Anjal Prakash, 2018. "Evolving high altitude livelihoods and climate change: a study from Rasuwa District, Nepal," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(4), pages 1055-1071, August.

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