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 Sasidharan²and 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: 16^th August,2024

Revised: 27^th August,2024

Accepted: 6^thSeptember,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

Age

Young (upto 35 years)

Middle (36-55 years)

Old (above 55 years)

06.67

66.67

26.66

Education

Low (primary school, 1-4^th std)

Medium (middle and high

school, 5-10^th and 11-12^th std)

High (above 12^th std, graduation)

00.00

76.67

23.33

Family size

Small (upto 2 members)

Medium (3-5 member)

Large (above 5 members)

13.33

66.67

20.00

Family type

Nuclear

Joint

66.67

33.33

Annual income

Low (< 50,000)

Medium (50,001 to 1,00,000)

High (> 1,00,001)

40.00

46.67

13.33

Social

participation

Member of one organization

Member of more than one

organization

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, 5-10^th and 11-12^th 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

Increase in melting of the glacier

16 (53.33)

10 (33.33)

04 (13.34)

Increase in temperature

24 (80.00)

02 (06.66)

04 (13.34)

Changes in water

18 (60.00)

09 (30.00)

03 (10.00)

Irregular and erratic rainfall

24 (80.00)

03 (10.00)

Change in length of season (Short

winter, Long summer)

24 (80.00)

04 (13.34)

02 (06.66)

Change in intensity and frequency of

storm

20 (66.66)

05 (16.77)

Decline of soil productivity

24 (80.00)

03 (10.00)

Occurrence of extreme event (Cold

wave, Heatwave, Heavy fog)

17 (56.67)

11 (36.77)

02 (06.66)

Frequent flood

26(86.77)

04 (13.33)

00 (00.00)

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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

Increase in number of vehicles

26 (86.77)

03 (10.00)

01 (03.33)

Overpopulation

19 (63.44)

10 (33.33)

01 (03.33)

Use of Pesticides

26 (86.77)

02 (06.66)

Burning of fossils and farm

waste

21 (70.00)

06 (20.00)

03 (10.00)

Industries and factories

22 (73.33)

05 (16.77)

03 (10.00)

Global Warming

27 (90.00)

00 (00.00)

03 (10.00)

06.66

90.00

03.33

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

Use of electrical appliances

14 (46.77)

09 (30.00)

07 (23.33)

Pollution

25 (83.33)

05 (16.77)

00 (00.00)

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

Increased temperature

24 (80.00)

05 (16.77)

01 (03.33) 00 (00.00)

Drought

11 (36.77)

17 (56.77)

01 (03.33) 01 (03.33)

Flood

24 (80.00)

05 (16.77)

01 (03.33) 00 (00.00)

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

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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