Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Measures Practiced in Agriculture at Latikoili VDC of Surkhet District, Nepal

Abstract

Limited understandings of the impacts of climate change and lack of local research have proven to be major challenges for the Nepalese agricultural sector. A study was carried out in Latikoili VDC of Surkhet district aiming to identify impacts of climate change, examine people’s perception, and assess existing adaptation measures practiced on agriculture. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was done to the data collected from primary and secondary sources. The climatic data revealed; the trend of temperature has increased and rainfall has substantially decreased over past 29 years. The results showed most of the respondents perceived change in climate and farming system such as delay of monsoon, erratic rainfall pattern, increased temperature resulting drought associated with decrease in water sources, shifting cultivation, planting and flowering time. The adaptation measures such as adapting improved seed varieties with change in planting time, IPM practices, and plastic pond to store waste water have been practiced to combat climate change. Sharing information and raising awareness among people can be done to enhance livelihood.