Understanding farmers’ perspectives to climate change and adaptation is essential in designing effective and informed strategies to combat the associated vulnerability. The study assessed farmers’ perceptions to changing climatic conditions, their impacts, adaptation measures and constraints to adaptation in Bikaner district of Rajasthan. Our results showed that farmers perceived change in the distribution of rainfall, rise in temperature, increase in frequency of heat waves and droughts in the region. Further, degradation of common property resources, uncertainty in crop yields, increased soil salinity, farm unemployment and reduction in consumption were some of the potential non-climatic impacts as perceived by the farmers. As climate adaptation measures, farmers resorted to disease/heat tolerant varieties, plant protection chemicals and water conservation techniques. Moreover, lack of access to institutional credit, poorly defined property rights, inadequate infrastructure and information gaps were some of the major barriers to climate adaptation in the region. The study provides a useful guide for identifying region-specific issues and implementable adaptation strategies. Policy actions are needed in creating awareness, improving climate information services and development of infrastructure for climate resilient farming.

中文翻译：

---

拉贾斯坦邦干旱地区基层农民对气候变化和适应的看法

了解农民对气候变化和适应的看法，对于设计有效和知情的战略来应对相关的脆弱性至关重要。该研究评估了农民对拉贾斯坦邦比卡内尔地区气候条件变化的看法，影响，适应措施和适应障碍。我们的结果表明，该地区的农民意识到降雨分布的变化，温度的升高，热浪频率的增加和干旱的发生。此外，农民认为，公共财产资源的退化，作物单产的不确定性，土壤盐分的增加，农场的失业和消费的减少是一些潜在的非气候影响。作为气候适应措施，农民诉诸于抗病/耐热品种，植保化学品和节水技术。此外，缺乏获得机构信贷的机会，界定不清的产权，基础设施不足和信息空白是该区域气候适应的主要障碍。该研究为确定特定地区的问题和可实施的适应策略提供了有用的指导。需要采取政策行动来提高认识，改善气候信息服务以及发展具有抗逆性的农业基础设施。该研究为确定特定地区的问题和可实施的适应策略提供了有用的指导。需要采取政策行动来提高认识，改善气候信息服务以及发展具有抗逆性的农业基础设施。该研究为确定特定地区的问题和可实施的适应策略提供了有用的指导。需要采取政策行动来提高认识，改善气候信息服务以及发展具有抗逆性的农业基础设施。