Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture: Farm-Level Evidence from Karnataka, India

Abstract

This study examines the impact of climate change on agriculture and explores the role of technology in its adaptation. For this purpose, primary data are collected from ecologically sensitive coastal and western ghat regions in the state of Karnataka. The study applied the Ricardian approach to estimate the climate sensitivity of agriculture in the region. A structured questionnaire with 98 questions collected various information from farmer households. Farmers' responses to these questions are presented as frequency tables and cross-sectional regression is applied under the Ricardian approach. The empirical results of the study confirm that farmers are aware of the sensitivity of agriculture to climate change. However, there is a lack of understanding of the adaptation of agriculture to climate change. Most farmers feel that since farming largely relies on nature, it is impossible to adapt to climate vagaries. Therefore, there is a greater need to educate farmers on possible adaptation strategies. Further, there is no greater variation in the crops cultivated and farmers' responses across different districts in the study area. There is a lot of scope for using technology to educate farmers on climate risks and possible adaptation strategies. Results of the Ricardian model reveal that erratic rainfall has a negative impact on farmland value. Among the socioeconomic variables, land belonging to socially backward communities commands less value than forward communities. Variables like education and households practising agriculture as the main profession positively influenced farmland values. Based on findings, several policy implications are highlighted, with the prominent being helping farmers diversify earnings, and communicating the standard adaptation strategies using cost-effective communications with greater reach. © 2024 Horizon Research Publishing. All rights reserved.