Women’s Perceptions Towards Climate Variability: A Case of Female Farmers in Bundelkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh, India
Deepali Suryawanshi
Department of Agricultural Extension & Communication, School of Agriculture, ITM University Gwalior, India.
Bijaya Laxmi Sahu
AICRP (Women in Agriculture), College of Community Science, Tura, Meghalaya, Central Agriculture University, Imphal, India.
Mahima Sharma
Department of Floriculture and Landscaping Architecture, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Gaurav Chaudhri
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Eshant Kumar Sukdeve
Agricultural Extension, College of Agriculture & Research Station, Pakhanjore, IGKV, Raipur, India.
Jyoti Dudi
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, IC college of Home Sciences, CCS HAU, Hisar, India.
Anjali Pandey
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Somdutt Tripathi *
Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study was conducted with the aim of women perception towards climate change in Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. Based on the output of this study, the sample had consisted of women aged 26–35 years (36.25%), the majority of whom were married (88.75%), belonged to medium-sized families (46.25%), and had a moderate monthly income (53.75%). Most participants had limited exposure to mass media (61.25%) and owned small landholdings (1–2 hectares) (65%), with 42.50%. A majority of women had experienced noticeable climate change effects, including rising temperatures, unpredictable weather patterns, reduced groundwater availability, altered plant nutrient content, delayed rainfall, increased drought frequency, and soil erosion. Most respondents agree on the environmental and economic effects of climate change. Data were analyzed using correlation coefficient which revealed that family Size, annual income, farming experience, and marital status were strongly and significantly associated with perceptions of climate change (p < 0.001). Age, Education, and Mass Media Exposure also showed statistically significant with moderate correlations (p < 0.05).
Keywords: Climate variability, socio economic variables, women in agriculture