Exploring the relationship between local institutions in SAT India and adaptation to climate variability

Banerjee, R and Kamanda, J and Bantilan, M C S and Singh, N P (2012) Exploring the relationship between local institutions in SAT India and adaptation to climate variability. Natural Hazards. pp. 1-22. ISSN 1573-0840

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Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between local institutions and adaptation to climate variability in four semi-arid villages in India. Based on a qualitative survey, it draws attention to the constraints that farming households face, the role of institutions, and the implications for their capacities to adapt. Using an institutional framework, the study examines the role of local institutions in facilitating community adaptation to perceived climate variability. It was found that at the institutional and community level farmers rely on government schemes that provide social safety nets and the private sector such as moneylenders as sources of adaptation options regarding access to credit. Serious constraints emerged, however, in terms of adaptation to what may be a more challenging future. These constraints were further explored by means of grounded theory. The lack of collective feeling and action has hindered bargaining for better market prices and the development of alternate livelihood options. The need for better financial inclusion and access to more formal systems of finance is necessary to increase the overall adaptive capacity of households. During crisis situations or climatic shocks, the absence of these systems means the sale of household assets and resources especially among small and landless groups of farmers. Overall, rural households perceive that public, civic, and private institutions play a significant role in shielding them against the adverse effects of climate variability. The perceived importance of different institutions is, however, different across different categories of farmers, women, and labourers.

Item Type:	Article
Divisions:	UNSPECIFIED
CRP:	UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Climate change, Perceptions, Institutions, Adaptation, ehaviour Adaptation constraints
Subjects:	Others > Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics Others > Climate Change
Depositing User:	Mr Sanat Kumar Behera
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2012 14:24
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2013 08:19
URI:	http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/6162
Official URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11069-012-0417-9
Projects:	UNSPECIFIED
Funders:	Asian Development Bank
Acknowledgement:	We wish to thank the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for providing financial resources to support this study. We are grateful to Senior Scientific Officers VK Chopde and Mohan Rao Yelamarthi and Resident Field Investigators N Rama Krishna, Vishwambhar Duche, Anand B Dhumale, and K Ramana Reddy for their full-time assistance in the villages of Shirapur, Kanzara, Dokur and Aurepalle.
Links:	Google Scholar

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