ABSTRACT

The traditional irrigation systems in the Upper Indus Basin (UIB) are frequently disrupted by climate-induced hazards, affecting irrigated agriculture – one of the major livelihood sources in the region. The recent scholarship lacks systematic data on various aspects that make the mountain irrigation systems susceptible to climate variabilities. Therefore, we investigated the climate vulnerability of irrigations systems at selected sites of the UIB, using a tailored ‘multidimensional indices’ approach. The sites represented a cross-section of socio-hydrological and physiographic attributes. The data on multiple dimensions of vulnerability and corresponding indicators were acquired through household surveys, using a semi-structured questionnaire. The findings revealed a ‘medium-high’ level of vulnerability of irrigation systems, which is a great concern, given the fragility of the mountainous ecosystems. Overall, the level of vulnerably didn’t vary across the sites, presumably due to physiographic and socio-cultural similarities, however, the various dimensions of vulnerability differed across the sites. The study concludes that appropriate adaptation measures are necessary to reduce the vulnerability of irrigation systems, especially by enhancing institutional resilience. This can be achieved by building capacities of local institutions and enhancing government’s financial, technical, and policy support for local communities in maintaining the traditional irrigation systems under the changing climatic conditions.

摘要

印度河流域上游 (UIB) 的传统灌溉系统经常受到气候灾害的影响，影响灌溉农业——该地区的主要生计来源之一。最近的研究缺乏关于使山区灌溉系统易受气候变化影响的各个方面的系统数据。因此，我们使用量身定制的“多维指数”方法调查了 UIB 选定地点的灌溉系统的气候脆弱性。这些站点代表了社会水文和地理属性的横截面。脆弱性的多个维度和相应指标的数据是通过家庭调查，使用半结构化问卷获得的。调查结果揭示了灌溉系统的“中高”程度的脆弱性，考虑到山区生态系统的脆弱性，这是一个非常令人担忧的问题。总体而言，各个地点的脆弱程度没有差异，这可能是由于地理和社会文化的相似性，但是，各个地点的脆弱程度不同。该研究得出的结论是，需要采取适当的适应措施来降低灌溉系统的脆弱性，特别是通过提高机构的复原力。这可以通过建设当地机构的能力和加强政府对当地社区在不断变化的气候条件下维持传统灌溉系统的财政、技术和政策支持来实现。然而，大概由于地理和社会文化的相似性，各个地点的脆弱性的各个方面都不同。该研究得出的结论是，需要采取适当的适应措施来降低灌溉系统的脆弱性，特别是通过提高机构的复原力。这可以通过建设当地机构的能力和加强政府对当地社区在不断变化的气候条件下维持传统灌溉系统的财政、技术和政策支持来实现。然而，大概由于地理和社会文化的相似性，各个地点的脆弱性的各个方面都不同。该研究得出的结论是，需要采取适当的适应措施来降低灌溉系统的脆弱性，特别是通过提高机构的复原力。这可以通过建设当地机构的能力和加强政府对当地社区在不断变化的气候条件下维持传统灌溉系统的财政、技术和政策支持来实现。