Drylands are particularly affected by climate change through changing rainfall patterns and land degradation, which reduces the ability of crops, livestock and people to cope with dryland conditions. The present study was conducted in Datia and Parbhani districts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra state, respectively to assess the technological feasibility of climate change adaptation strategies and contingency plans. Sixty farmers from each district were personally interviewed using a pre-tested interview schedule. The feasibility indices were calculated using normalization, weightage and aggregation for all the recommended climate change adaptation technologies of the contingency plans for both the district. The results revealed that “Using different varieties (e.g. early maturing, drought-resistant) for early season drought” ranked first, while “Installation of insect traps and grow trap crops along the border to control pest population” ranked second and “Seed priming in water for 12- 15 hours in wheat, mustard and chickpea, if there is low rainfall” ranked third in Datia district. In case of Parbhani district.“If rain is delayed by 10-15 days Raise cotton seedlings in polythene bags and transplant when sufficient soil moisture is available. “Modifying planting, harvesting, and fertilizing practices for crops” and “Re-sowing of the crop if the plant population is less than 50per cent in Soybean. Pigeon pea and Black gram” was ranked first, second and third respectively.

Dryland, Contingency plan, Climate change adaptation, Normalization and Technological feasibility

The present study was conducted in Datia and Parbhani districts of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra state, respectively to assess the technological feasibility of climate change adaptation strategies and contingency plans. It was found that it is evident that “Using different varieties (e.g. early maturing, drought-resistant) for early season drought” ranked first, while “Installation of insect traps and grow trap crops along the border to control pest population” ranked second in case of Datia district. Whereas, “If rain is delayed by 10-15 days Raise cotton seedlings in polythene bags and transplant when sufficient soil moisture is available ranked first and” Summer deep ploughing” ranked last in case of Parbhani district. The recommended climate change adaptation technologies /strategies should be socially, economically and technically feasible for greater adoption by the farmers to combat drought. Similar kind of research studies can be conducted in different locations to provide effective and efficient adaptation strategies to changing climate scenario in agriculture. Through feasibility assessment studies and understanding the needs and problems of the farmers facing due to adverse climatic conditions, it will help the research and extension system to provide feasible technological options to the farmers for climate change adaptation.

H. Chandan Gowda and Rabindra Nath Padaria (2022). Assessment of the Technological Feasibility of Climate change Adaptation Strategies and Contingency Plans in Dryland Areas. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4a): 33-36.