International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277 ... - eJManager

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Sep 9, 2013 - ... Extension Education, Indian Veterinary Research Institute Izatnagar, Bareilly (India) ... carried out in kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh state.
International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE www.ijlr.org

Vol 3(3b) Sept’13

Awareness and Risk Perception to Climate Variability among Baiga and Gond Tribes in Chhattisgarh State of India Nema, J.1* and Tripathi, H.2 Division of Extension Education, Indian Veterinary Research Institute Izatnagar, Bareilly (India) 1 2

M.V.Sc. student, Division of Veterinary Extension, IVRI, Izatnagar, India Principal Scientist and Programme Coordinator, KVK, IVRI, Izatnagar, India

*Corresponding Author: [email protected] Rec. Date: Jul 24, 2013 02:15, Accepted Date: Sep 09, 2013 09:50

Abstract This study has attempted to find out the level of awareness among tribal respondents of Chhattisgarh with respect to climate variability and perceived risks due to changes in climate attributes. The study was carried out in kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh state. Data were collected from 120 tribal respondents from 6 village of kabirdham district. The study revealed that majority of female and male farmers hailing from tribal areas were not aware about concepts of climate change and global warming. Eleven per cent female and 16.67 per cent male respondents were aware about the causes of changes in climate. Female and male respondents did not differ significantly in their perception on changes in climate attributes due to change in precipitation, length of summer days and winter days, water level, heat waves and moisture level. However perceptions differed significantly between female and male respondents with respect to changes in temperature, monsoon and number of rainy days at 5 per cent level of significance.

Keywords: Awareness, Climate variability, Risk perception, Climate attributes Introduction Climate change has emerged as one of the most devastating environmental threat globally. It is a multi-faceted challenge for today’s societies through its impact on human, agriculture, livestock and the natural environment. Developing countries are more vulnerable to climate change than developed countries because of the predominance of agriculture in their economies and scarcity of capital for adaptation measures (Fischer et. al., 2005). India’s economy and a majority of its population are highly dependent on climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries etc. In India, significant negative impacts have been implied with mediumterm climate change, predicted to reduce yields by 4.5 to 9 percent, depending on the magnitude and distribution of warming. Since agriculture makes up roughly 16 percent of

or other changes in state of Chhattisgarh not only caused the agricultural losses of the poor

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roughly up to 1.5 percent of GDP per year (Venkateswarlu et al., 2012). Regular drought

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India’s GDP, a 4.5 to 9% negative impact on production implies a cost of climate change to be

International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE www.ijlr.org

Vol 3(3b) Sept’13

farmers but also reduced their income. Gender is also an important ingredient in building climate resilience. Awareness and perception of climate variability may be different between the men and women as they have different needs and face varying impacts of climate change. Gender considerations thus will be part of broadening access to technology to manage climate change. Gender equality issues have raised a step higher also on the international climate change agenda at the recent. The study is unique in a sense that it covered both male and female respondents, may help in preparing a road map for capacity building of people living in the remote tribal areas for effective adaptation and mitigation of adverse effects for sustainable livelihood and development in view of the above, the study has been undertaken to assess the level of awareness and perception of tribal respondents with respect to change in climate and its attributes. Materials and Methods The present study has been carried out in state of Chhattisgarh which comprises a total of 27 districts. Out of these, Kabirdham district was selected purposively because the climate in this district varies to a large extent every year as per the available sources and records. Moreover, no study on impact of climate variability specifically on livestock has been carried out in this region. Kabirdham district constitutes 4 blocks namely; Kawardha, Bodla, Sahaspur Lohara and Pandaria. Out of 4, one block namely Bodla was selected purposively. This block constitutes 345 numbers of villages. Out of these, 6 village namely Amanara, Ghongha, Usarwahi, Bokkarkhar, Tenduaadih, Minminiya maidan were selected randomly. This block has more number of Schedule Tribes’ population (39.62%), mainly Baiga and Gond who were actual respondents of the present study. Baiga tribes were more prominent in study areas than Gond tribes. Fifty eight per cent female and 67 per cent male respondents belonged to Baiga cast whereas 42 per cent female and 33 per cent male respondents belonged to Gond caste. Mean age of marriage in tribes is found to be a little over 15 years. Agriculture, fishing, hunting, extracting forest products, forging metal goods in cottage industries, etc are the prime occupations of tribal respondents in study area. A list of livestock owning tribal farmers was prepared for each

female + 10 male respondents) were selected. Final data were collected personally from interview schedule from 120 livestock owing tribal families from 6 different villages of

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respondents were selected randomly, thus from each of the selected village, 20 tribal farmers (10

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village. From each of the 6 selected villages, ten female and an equal number of male

International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE www.ijlr.org

Vol 3(3b) Sept’13

Kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh state. Results and Discussion Table 1 indicates that 25 per cent male respondents from tribal areas had heard the term ‘Climate change’ and somewhat aware that climate changing taking place in the couple of years against 17 per cent of the female respondents. Thus majority of the male (75%) and female respondents (83.33%) were not aware at all about climate change. Similar findings have been documented in West Bengal by Sarkar and Padariya et al. in 2010 who also reported that nearly 38 per cent of the respondents had heard about climate change. Study conducted by Mandleni and Anim (2011) indicated that 57 per cent livestock farmers were more aware of climate change and the rest 43 per cent were not aware in South Africa. Finding of study in the Ghana however, unveiled that about 90 per cent respondents thought that climate change is happening while 10.3 per cent saw no change in climate (Acquah 2011). Another study conducted by Singh in 2012 on knowledge and perception of livestock owners on climate change revealed the contrary to it. He revealed that 97.5 per cent farmers of Nainital and Deoria believed that climate change is happening. Present study also indicated that except 85 per cent female and 75 per cent male respondents were found it as an urgent and serious problem. Similarly majority of the female (96.66%) and male (93.33%) farmers were not acquainted with the term of ‘global warming’. It was surprising that 93 per cent tribal farmers never came across to this term before. The reason may be because these peoples living away from city and rarely come across to news and the environmental phenomenon. Eleven per cent female and 16.67 per cent male respondents were somewhat aware about the causes of changes in climate. Thus majority of the male (83.33%) and female (88.33%) respondents were not aware at all about climate change, its cause, importance, role of animal in climate change as well as impact of climate variability on livestock. No statistical significant differences were observed between the female and male respondents with respect to their awareness for climate change. Table 1: Distribution of respondents according to their awareness about climate variability

aware

Fully aware

Somewhat aware

Male (60) Not aware

Fully aware

Somewhat aware

Not aware

value

51

P2

Female (60)

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Awareness

International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE www.ijlr.org

Awareness that climate 10 is (16.67) changing 09 Awareness of importance of climate (15.00) change(Taking it urgent and serious problem) Awareness for 02 global warming (03.33) Awareness of cause 07 of (11.60) climate change Figures in parentheses indicate percentage

Vol 3(3b) Sept’13

50 (83.33)

-

15 (25.00)

45 1.263 (75.00)

51 (85.00)

-

15 (25.00)

45 1.875 (75.00)

58 (96.67) 53 (88.33)

-

04 (6.67) 10 (16.67)

56 0.702 (93.33) 50 0.617 (83.33)

-

Perceived causes of climate change To understand the awareness regarding causes of climate change, respondents were asked to express their perceptions that were aware with the term about causes of climate change. About 57.14 per cent of the female respondents attributed it to deforestation, 14.29 per cent to bush burning, equal percentage to emulsion of gas from industries as factors responsible for climate variability. Amongst male respondents, 50 per cent attributed it to deforestation, 10 per cent to bush burning, equal per cent of respondents cited it to emission of gas from industries and 30 per cent to all the mentioned factors. Similar findings have been documented in Sekyednumase district in Ghana wherein about 63.30 per cent of the farmers attributed it to deforestation, 18.9 per cent to bush burning, 3.3 per cent to increased population and 8.9 per cent to other factors (Fosu-Mensah, et al, 2010). Another study conducted by Acquah in 2011 revealed that about 87.2 per cent respondents were awared about causes of climate change while 12.8 per cent were not awared. About 92 per cent thought that climate change results from bush burning, 92.4 per cent thought that deforestation causes climate change; 89.7 per cent thought burning of fossil fuels lead to changes in the climatic behavior; 92.3 per cent cited emission of gases from industries as a cause of climate change and 54 respondents representing 69.2 per cent thought uncontrollable use of aerosols causes climate change. Table 2: Distribution of respondents according to cause of climate change perceived by them

f

%

Male(n=10) f

Pooled (N=17)

%

F

%

10.00

02

11.76

Bush burning 14.29 01

01

52

Female (n=7)

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Perceived causes of climate change

International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE www.ijlr.org

Vol 3(3b) Sept’13

Deforestation Burning of fossil fuels

04 -

57.13 -

05 -

50.00 -

09 -

52.94 -

Emission of gas from industries All of these

01 01

14.29 14.29

01 03

10.00 30.00

02 04

11.76 23.54

Risks perceived by respondents with reference to climate attributes Respondents were asked to reveal their perception on attributes of climate change in terms of its increase, decrease, altered and no change. Frequency was calculated on each of this attribute separately for male female tribal respondents as well as for pooled sample. Table 3 indicates that 68.33 per cent respondents perceived increase in temperature, 10 per cent perceived altered and 17.50 per cent perceived no change in it. A study conducted on perception of climate change revealed that a significant number of farmers believed that temperature had already increased and precipitation had declined for eleven African countries (Maddison, 2006). A case study of Sekyedumase district in Ghana revealed that 91.1 per cent of farmers perceived a long term change in temperature. Acquah, 2011 also found that 29.1 per cent respondents perceived increase in temperature due to high direct sun intensity. Present study further shows that about 56.67 per cent respondents perceived decrease in precipitation. No change in precipitation was perceived by 25 per cent of the respondents. About 16 per cent respondents also perceived that time of precipitation have been changed in recent years. With respect to rainfall majority of the tribal respondents (72.50%) perceived it unpredictable change. About 14 per cent respondents perceived late onset of monsoon and rest of the respondents perceived irregular rainfall distribution. According to 69.17 per cent respondents number of rainy days has been decrease whereas 26 per cent of the respondents perceived no change in it. Majority of female (60%) and male (66.66%) respondents perceived that length of summer days has been increased. Twenty four per cent of the respondents perceived no change in length of winter days whereas most of the respondents perceived that length of winter days has

were recognized as observed climatic changes in Northwestern Bangladesh. Present study further revealed that equal percentage of female and male respondents (86.67%) perceived decrease

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et. al., (2012) reported that long length of summer days as well as short length of winter days

53

been decreased and about 29 per cent of the respondents yielded no idea about it. Habiba

International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE www.ijlr.org

Vol 3(3b) Sept’13

in water level in river and stream. Sixty three per cent respondents perceived increase in heat waves whereas 15 per cent had no idea about it. Decreasing soil moisture perceived by 37 per cent female against 78 per cent male respondents. In pooled sample 57.50 per cent respondents perceived that soil moisture has been decreased and 25 per cent of respondents yielded no idea about it and the rest 17.50 per cent of respondents perceived no change in soil moisture. Female and male respondents did not differ significantly in their perception on changes in climate attributes due to change in precipitation, length of summer days and winter days, water level, heat waves and moisture level. However perceptions were significantly observed for the changes in temperature, monsoon and number of rainy days at 5 per cent level of significance between female and male respondents. Table 3: Gender wise distribution of respondents according to their perception with respect

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54

to changes in climate attributes

International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE www.ijlr.org

Female (n=60) F %

Pooled (N=120) F %

2 value

63.33 16.67 20.00

44 05 02 09

73.33 08.33 03.33 15.00

82 05 12 21

68.33 04.17 10.00 17.50

01.67 55.00 20.00

02 35

03.33 58.33 11.67

03 68 19

02.50 56.67 15.83

19.772*

1.841 23.33

16

26.67

30

25.00

21.67 -

04 04

6.67 6.67

17 04

14.17 03.33

61.66 16.67

50 02

83.33 03.33

87 12

72.50 10.00

66.67 23.33 10.00

43 17 -

71.67 28.33 -

83 31 06

69.17 25.83 05.00

60.00 16.67 23.33

40 10 10

66.66 16.67 16.67

76 20 24

63.33 16.67 20.00

06.67 40.00 28.33 25.00

03 25 12 20

05.00 41.67 20.00 33.33

07 49 29 35

05.83 40.83 24.17 29.17

86.67 05.00 08.33

52 06 02

86.67 10.00 03.33

104 09 07

86.67 07.50 05.83

63.33 20.00

38 14

63.33 23.33

76 26

63.33 21.67

17.589*

6.399*

0.877

1.74

0.865

55

Temperature 38 Increased Decreased Altered temperature 10 No change 12 Precipitation Increased 01 Decreased 33 07 Change in time of 12 precipitation No change 14 Monsoon pattern Late onset of monsoon 13 Early withdrawal of Monsoon Unpredictable rain fall 37 Irregular rainfall 10 distribution Number of rainy days Increased Decreased 40 No change 14 No idea 06 Length of summer days Increased 36 Decreased No change 10 No idea 14 Length of winter days Increased 04 Decreased 24 No change 17 No idea 15 Water level in rivers/streams Increased Decreased 52 No change 03 No idea 05 Heat waves Increased 38 Decreased No change 12

Male (n-60) f %

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Perception

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International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE www.ijlr.org

No idea Soil moisture Increased Decreased No change No idea

Vol 3(3b) Sept’13

10

16.67

08

13.33

18

15.00

0.367

22 10 28

36.67 16.67 46.66

47 11 02

78.33 18.33 03.34

69 21 30

57.50 17.50 25.00

22.754

* Significant at 5 per cent level of significance (P