Madras Agric.J.,2024; https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.500022
Vol 111| 7-9
Climate Smart Agriculture Awareness among Farm Women in Ratnagiri
District
Ashwini P. Dangore1, Parvathy Sasidharan2 and Sanjay B. Agale3
1. Department of Agricultural Extension Education, College of Agriculture, Nandurbar (MS)
India.
2. Department of Extension Education, Dr. BSKKV, Dapoli (MS) India.
3. Department of Agricultural Extension Education, College of Agriculture, Nandurbar (MS)
Corresponding author Email.id. ashwinidangore1995@gmail.com
Received: 16th August,2024
Revised: 27th August,2024
Accepted: 6th September,2024
Abstract
It is crucial to empower farm women to respond to climate change challenges.
Recognising and promoting awareness about the gender dimensions of climate change all
contribute to effective climate change adaptation. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is one
interdisciplinary strategy for addressing the interconnected challenges of food security and
climate change, with the clear goal of increasing food security, productivity and income,
adaptability to climate change, and agricultural system efficiency. The study intended to assess
the awareness level of farm women on climate-smart agriculture, taking indicators on climate
change, causes of climate change, and climate variables influencing the production as major
dimensions. The sample comprised 30 farm women chosen at random from two villages in the
Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. The majority of the respondents, viz 90.00 percent, 73.33
percent, and 70.00 percent, had a medium level of awareness of indicators on climate change,
causes of climate change, and climate variables influencing production, respectively. More
than half of the respondents fell into the middle category in terms of age, education, family
size, and annual income. 66.67 percent of respondents had nuclear families, and the remaining
possessed joint families. 56.67 percent of farm women were members of a single organization,
while 43.33 percent were members of multiple organizations.
Madras Agric.J.,2024; https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.500022
Vol 111| 7-9
Keywords: Climate change, Awareness. Farm workers, Productivity , Adaptability
Introduction
“Climate change” is a change that is recognized directly or indirectly by human activity
that alters the composition of the global atmosphere (UNFCCC). Agriculture is essentially
sensitive to climatic changes and is one of the most vulnerable sectors. Climate change directly
affects agriculture production and production efficiency. It affects agriculture in terms of
productivity, agricultural practices, environmental effects, rural space, and adaptation. Climate
change is visibly occurring across the globe, impacting the conditions, experiences, and
livelihoods of populations in multiple ways. Unfavourable weather conditions such as delayed
monsoon, intermitted dry spells, erratic rainfall and prolonged droughts etc., are the major
concern to the farmers. Climate change is today’s most debated environmental issue. It is an
important issue because it can affect all aspects of the society and the livelihood of people
especially the rural farmers. Climate change is the biggest threat to agriculture in India, but
farmers are still not fully aware of climate change and its indicators, causes, and impacts.
Although women are important food producers and providers, they have limited access to and
control of resources. On the other hand, because of their central role in agriculture, women are
great agents of social change. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an approach to ensure food
security, increase productivity and incomes, build resilience to climate change, and reduce
emissions from agricultural systems.
Objective
To study the climate smart agriculture awareness among farm women in Ratnagiri district
Methodology
Ratnagiri district was selected for the present study. The survey was carried out to
determine farm women's awareness of climate-smart agriculture. An ex-post facto research
design was used in this study. The random sample approach was used to pick 30 respondents.
The information was gathered through first hand interviews with farm women. In the current
study, statistical methods such as frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, and standard
deviation were used for interpretation and making conclusions.
Madras Agric.J.,2024; https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.500022
Vol 111| 7-9
Results
Table 1 Distribution according to Personal and socio-economic profile of farm women
Sl. No
Component
Categories
Frequency Percentage
1.
Age
Young (upto 35 years)
Middle (36-55 years)
Old (above 55 years)
2
20
8
06.67
66.67
26.66
2.
Education
Low (primary school, 1-4th std)
Medium (middle and high
school, 5-10th and 11-12th std)
High (above 12th std, graduation)
0
23
7
00.00
76.67
23.33
3.
Family size
Small (upto 2 members)
Medium (3-5 member)
Large (above 5 members)
4
20
6
13.33
66.67
20.00
4.
Family type
Nuclear
Joint
20
10
66.67
33.33
5.
Annual income
Low (< 50,000)
Medium (50,001 to 1,00,000)
High (> 1,00,001)
12
14
4
40.00
46.67
13.33
6.
Social
participation
Member of one organization
Member of more than one
organization
17
13
56.67
43.33
The data in table 1 showed that the majority (76.67 percent) of the respondents had medium
level of education (middle and high school, 5-10th and 11-12th std), followed by 23.33 percent
with high level of education (above 12th std, graduation), and none of them with low level of
education. The majority (66.67 percent) of respondents belonged to families with medium size
(3-5 members), followed by 20.00 percent with large family size (above 5 members), and 13.33
percent with small family size (upto 2 members). Two third (66.67 per cent) of respondents
belonged to ‘nuclear’ families and one third (33.33 per cent) of them belonged to ‘joint’
families.
Madras Agric.J.,2024; https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.500022
Vol 111| 7-9
1. Annual Income:
Low (< 50,000): 12 individuals (40.00%)
Medium (50,001 to 1,00,000): 14 individuals (46.67%)
High (> 1,00,001): 4 individuals (13.33%)
Explanation: The distribution of annual income shows that a slightly higher percentage of
individuals fall into the medium-income category (46.67%), with 40.00% falling into the low-
income category.
2. Social Participation:
Member of one organization: 17 individuals (56.67%)
Member of more than one organization: 13 individuals (43.33%)
Explanation: A majority of the participants (56.67%) are members of at least one organization,
suggesting a significant level of social engagement within the surveyed population.
Table 2 Distribution of respondents according to the level of awareness of indicators on
climate change
Sl.
No.
Indicators /Phenomenon
Level of awareness in Percentage (%)
Fully aware
Somewhat
Not aware
1.
Increase in melting of the glacier
16 (53.33)
10 (33.33)
04 (13.34)
2.
Increase in temperature
24 (80.00)
02 (06.66)
04 (13.34)
3.
Changes in water
18 (60.00)
09 (30.00)
03 (10.00)
4.
Irregular and erratic rainfall
24 (80.00)
03 (10.00)
03 (10.00)
5.
Change in length of season (Short
winter, Long summer)
24 (80.00)
04 (13.34)
02 (06.66)
6.
Change in intensity and frequency of
storm
20 (66.66)
05 (16.77)
05 (16.77)
7.
Decline of soil productivity
24 (80.00)
03 (10.00)
03 (10.00)
8.
Occurrence of extreme event (Cold
wave, Heatwave, Heavy fog)
17 (56.67)
11 (36.77)
02 (06.66)
9.
Frequent flood
26(86.77)
04 (13.33)
00 (00.00)
Madras Agric.J.,2024; https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.500022
Vol 111| 7-9
The data in Table 2 awareness of farm women regarding the level of awareness on
indicators on climate change revealed that the great majority of the farm women, 86.77 per
cent, were fully aware of the frequent flood, followed by 36.77 per cent were somewhat aware
of the occurrence of extreme event (Cold wave, Heatwave, Heavy fog) and 16.77 per cent were
not aware of change in intensity and frequency of storm.
Fig. 1 Distribution of respondents according to the level of awareness on indicators of
climate change
The fig.1 shows that the majority (90.00 percent) of respondents had a medium level of
awareness of indicators of climate change, followed by 06.66 per cent and 03.33 per cent had
low and high levels of awareness of indicators of climate change, respectively.
Table.3 Distribution of respondents according to the level of Awareness on Causes of
Climate Change
Sl. No.
Statement
Level of awareness in Percentage (%)
Fully aware
Somewhat
Not aware
1.
Increase in number of vehicles
26 (86.77)
03 (10.00)
01 (03.33)
2.
Overpopulation
19 (63.44)
10 (33.33)
01 (03.33)
3.
Use of Pesticides
26 (86.77)
02 (06.66)
02 (06.66)
4.
Burning of fossils and farm
waste
21 (70.00)
06 (20.00)
03 (10.00)
5.
Industries and factories
22 (73.33)
05 (16.77)
03 (10.00)
6.
Global Warming
27 (90.00)
00 (00.00)
03 (10.00)
06.66
90.00
03.33
0
20
40
60
80
100
Low
Medium
High
Percentage
Level of awereness on indicators on climate change
Madras Agric.J.,2024; https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.500022
Vol 111| 7-9
7.
Use of electrical appliances
14 (46.77)
09 (30.00)
07 (23.33)
8.
Pollution
25 (83.33)
05 (16.77)
00 (00.00)
9.
Rapid urbanization
23 (76.77)
06 (20.00)
01 (03.33)
10.
Natural Disaster
29 (96.77)
01 (03.33)
00 (00.00)
The data in table 3 awareness of farm women regarding causes of climate change observed
that, great majority of the farm women 96.77 per cent were fully aware of natural disaster,
followed by 33.33 per cent were somewhat aware of overpopulation and 23.33 per cent were
not aware of use of electrical appliances.
Fig. 2 Level of awareness on causes of climate change
The fig. 2 indicated that nearly three forth i.e., 73.00 per cent of respondent had
medium, 17.00 per cent had high and 10.00 per cent had low level of awareness on causes of
climate change.
Table.4 Distribution of respondents according to the Level of Awareness on climate
variable influencing production
Sl. No.
Incidence
Degree of change in percentage (%)
Extreme
Moderate
Negligible None
1.
Increased temperature
24 (80.00)
05 (16.77)
01 (03.33) 00 (00.00)
2.
Drought
11 (36.77)
17 (56.77)
01 (03.33) 01 (03.33)
3.
Flood
24 (80.00)
05 (16.77)
01 (03.33) 00 (00.00)
4.
Change in growing season
11 (36.77)
13 (43.33)
06 (20.00) 00 (00.00)
10%
73%
17%
Level of awereness on causes of climate change
Low
Medium
High
Madras Agric.J.,2024; https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.500022
Vol 111| 7-9
The data in table 4 awareness of farm women regarding climate variable influencing
production showed that the majority of the farm women, 80.00 percent were the extreme level
of awareness of increased temperature and flood, followed by 56.77 percent, were the moderate
level of aware of drought, and 20.22 percent were the negligible level of aware about change
in the growing season.
Fig. 3 Level of awareness on climate variable influencing production
Fig. 3 showed that the majority, i.e., 70.00 percent of the respondents, had medium
level of awareness, followed by 16.77 percent, and 13.33 percent with high and low levels of
awareness on climate variables influencing production.
Conclusion
The study on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) awareness among farm women in
Ratnagiri district highlights the critical role of women in promoting sustainable agricultural
practices. Findings reveal a varying degree of awareness among the respondents regarding CSA
practices, with some familiarity with basic concepts but significant gaps in advanced
knowledge and implementation. This underscores the need for targeted interventions, such as
capacity-building programs and outreach efforts, to enhance their understanding and
application of CSA practices. Empowering farm women with relevant skills and knowledge is
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Low
Medium
High
Percentage
Level of awareness on climate variable influencing production
13.33
70.00
16.77
Madras Agric.J.,2024; https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.500022
Vol 111| 7-9
pivotal for the successful adoption of CSA, particularly in a region like Ratnagiri, where
agriculture is heavily influenced by climatic conditions. Collaborative efforts involving
governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, and local communities can facilitate
this process by providing accessible training, resources, and support systems. Ultimately,
strengthening the CSA awareness of farm women can lead to more resilient agricultural
systems, improved livelihoods, and a sustainable future for the farming communities in the
district. This study serves as a foundational step for developing focused strategies to bridge the
awareness and implementation gaps, contributing to the broader goals of climate resilience and
agricultural sustainability.
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