Measuring paddy farmers’vulnerability to climate change in Mahavillachiya: Ds division, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Abstract

The objective of this study is to measure the paddy farmers‘ vulnerability to climate change. The indicator method was used to analyze the vulnerability of the paddy farmers in the Mahavilachchiya and Thanthrimale GN division of in Mahavillachiya DS division, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. The different socioeconomic and biophysical indicators of each area collected have been classified into three classes, based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change‘s (IPCC 2001) definition of vulnerability, which consists of adaptive capacity, sensitivity, and exposure. This study was conducted with active farmers who are involved in paddy farming for more than thirty years of experience and above fifty in age. Among them, 40 percent of the paddy farmers were selected by using the random sampling technique. Structured Questionnaires and focus group discussions were conducted to collect primary data and secondary data was collected from relevant institutions and libraries. Results indicated that Thanthrimale is relatively more vulnerable to climate change than Mahavilachchiya. Thus, investing in the development of the relatively underdeveloped area of Thanthrimale, enhance irrigation system, early warning systems to help farmers‘ better cope in times of drought, drought-tolerant varieties of crops can reduce the vulnerability of paddy farmers to climate change.