Farmers׳ perception of drought impacts, local adaptation and administrative mitigation measures in Maharashtra State, India

TLDR

Recurring drought poses a major challenge in Maharashtra’s drought‑prone areas, where agriculture—primarily rainfed cropping and livestock—provides the main income for over 64 % of the population. The study seeks to understand farmers’ perceptions of drought’s socio‑economic and environmental impacts, their household adaptation practices, and their views on government mitigation measures, with the aim of informing more effective drought‑adaptation policies. Data were gathered through secondary sources and a survey of 223 farming households. Farmers report that drought lowers crop and livestock yields, reduces employment and income, triggers migration, harms health and schooling, fuels water conflicts and malnutrition, and worsens temperature, forest degradation, water quality, fish habitats, and groundwater, yet they are hesitant to adopt available adaptation options and are dissatisfied with government mitigation measures.

Abstract

Recurring drought is a major challenge in the Drought Prone Area of Maharashtra State in India. Agriculture (e.g., rainfed cropping and livestock) is the major income activity of over 64% of the state׳s population. The objective of this study is to understand the rural farming community׳s perception of drought impacts on their socio-economic activities and environment, their adaptation at the household level and opinions on government drought mitigation measures. This study is based on both secondary and primary data collected via a survey of 223 farming households. The results show that decrease in yield of cereals, horticultural crops, livestock production and loss of employment, all associated with decreased income of farmers, were the most immediate economic impacts of drought. Social impacts such as population migration, impacts on health and schooling of children, hopelessness and sense of loss, conflicts in society for water, and malnutrition due to changed food preferences were also reported. The environmental impacts such as increases in average atmospheric temperature, pasture-forest degradation, deteriorated water quality, damage to fish habitat-wild life, and groundwater depletion were perceived by farmers to high extent. In spite of good perception of severity of drought impacts by farmers and their familiarity with various adaptation options, the preference given for their adoption in agriculture was not good enough. Also to mitigate drought, the government provided various mitigation measures, but the level of satisfaction amongst farmers was low. It is expected that this study will help policy makers to develop more appropriate drought adaptation policies in India.