A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All
Baba, S. H.
- Climate Change in Kashmir Valley: Is it Initiating Transformation of Mountain Agriculture?
Authors
1 Rajiv Gandhi Chair in Contemporary Studies on Livelihood and Food Security, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar, 190025, IN
2 Division of Agri. Economics and Marketing, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar, 190025, IN
Source
Indian Journal of Economics and Development, Vol 3, No 2 (2015), Pagination: 142-154Abstract
Background/Objectives: Climate change has profound impacts on Himalayas, non availability of both data and models to estimate its impacts was a major problem. Therefore, apart from key climate variables, farmer's perceptions in mitigating the climate change formed the major source of information and objective of the current study.
Methods/Statistical analysis: The study is based on both primary and secondary data collected from 270 respondents during 2013-14 and 2014-15 spread over north, central and south Kashmir which was further classified into low to mid (L-M) and mid to high (M-H) altitudes. Group discussions/interactions in each selected village between the farmers, scientists and experts from concerned departments formed an important part of the survey. Averages and percentages were worked out to analyse the data.
Results: The rise in temperature was prominent in first and last quarters of the year. This trend seemed to help the temperate mountain farming scenario owing to extended summers favouring increased cropping intensity and adopting advanced technological mix in the study area. This was supported by the introduction of paddy cultivation in southern elevations of Kulgam district, being only a dream a few years before. The annual averages revealed a considerable decrease in the day-1 rainfall (-19.44%) and average number of rainy days month-1 (-24.10%) during period-I over period-II. The variation in the magnitude in different quarters, revealed steeper decrease in winter season (Oct-Dec and Jan-Mar) compared to summer season (Apr-Sep). Important and unambiguous perceptions about climate change perceived by the farmers were increased temperature, long summers, short winters, less snowfall and highly uncertain weather conditions, which triggered since late 1990s. These perceptions are in conformity with the inferences drawn from dynamics of temperature and rainfall during last three decades (170 words).
Conclusion: The study concludes that climate change has initiated in this region which is supported by macroevidences, demanding a serious effort for its mitigation through awareness programmes designed as per farmer's perceptions for better pay-off in long run.
Keywords
Climate Change, Adaptation, Temperate Region, Farmer Perceptions.- D-S Gaps, Utilization Pattern and Impact of Institutional Credit to Agriculture in Jammu & Kashmir
Authors
1 Division of Agri. Economics and Marketing, Rajiv Gandhi Chair SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar, 190 025, IN
2 Rajiv Gandhi Chair SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar, 190 025, IN
Source
Indian Journal of Economics and Development, Vol 3, No 9 (2015), Pagination: 1-9Abstract
Background/Objectives: Resource poor conditions, marginalization of holdings and gradual commercialization of farming needs assessment of D-S scenario, utilization and impact of institutional credit on farm returns under agro-climatic diversities of Jammu and Kashmir.
Methods/Statistical analysis: A multi-stage stratified random sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 400 (200 borrowers+200 non-borrowers) respondents, representing each agro-climatic zone to collect primary data to estimate the short term credit requirements and capture the impact of agricultural credit on overall gross farm returns by employing regression analysis technique. Secondary data was also used to supplement the findings.
Results: Various institutional agencies involved in advancing agricultural credit have differential role across agro-climatic zones. Financial institutions advanced only 7.61 per cent of total credit requirement in the state which varied across zones. The productive credit utilization ranged between 65 per cent in IMZ and 98 per cent in SBTZ. The unproductive credit use was higher in IMZ (34.7%) followed by TMZ (24.2%) and CAZ (5.9%). The regression estimates for credit were positive and highly significant in all the agro-climatic zones except in IMZ where it was non-significant due to its higher miss-utilization. However, credit indirectly increased returns through capital formation and adoption of technology in all the zones. Educated farmers understood the possible benefits of scientific application in farming business, however, lacked wisdom for its productive utilization. Irrigation influenced returns positively, however, non-adoption of scientific recommendations was demonstrated by the negative coefficient of expenditure on variable costs across the zones.
Conclusion: Study highlighted huge D-S gaps in institutional credit to agriculture across different zone. Regression estimates revealed that extension of credit encouraged capital formation, adoption of technologies and increased farm returns.