FARMERS' PERCEPTIONS AND ADAPTATION PRACTICES TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN RAIN-FED AREA: A CASE STUDY FROM DISTRICT CHAKWAL, PAKISTAN

Farmers in the rain-fed regions are becoming more exposed to extreme weather adversities and hence, suffer significant losses. The present study was designed to decipher the impacts of the climate change on the farming communities residing in the rainfed areas of Pakistan. For this purpose, 475 households were surveyed through a pre-tested structured questionnaire to know farmers' perceptions about climate change and its impacts; available sources of information and strategies adopted to cope with climate-related events. The results indicated that 96% of the respondents perceive that the climate in their surroundings is not only changing rather aggressively denting on crop productivity, livestock sustenance and human health. These climatic variations are being realized in the form of rising temperature (61%), irregular pattern of precipitation (86%) hailstorm (73%), delay in the start of winter season (71%), incidents of the cold breeze (67%) and heat waves (65%), storms (64%), frost (59%) and an increase in the occurrences of drought conditions (39%). This factor by and large tantamount the overall depression in the rain-fed farming community pressing them to look for the alternative avenues for their livelihood. Nevertheless, the farmers rely on different adaptation strategies (changing planting decisions: 76%, changing cropping pattern: 46%, left land fallow: 24% etc.), but these are insufficient and less effective. In conclusion, only few farmers could adapted their agricultural strategies to changing climate due to limited resources and capacities and majority is vulnerable Therefore, the scenario demands for integrated technical, financial and institutional support to the farmers. This upcoming alarming situation requires potential measures be taken to ensure resilience of agriculture sector that may ultimate poverty reduction.