Abstract:
Global climate change (CC) is the severest threat that is faced by
the contemporary world. It has been experienced that the negative impacts
of the CC are recently increasing in Sri Lanka. Paddy sector is one of the
most vulnerable sectors in the country, to the effects of CC. Central province,
where small scale and mostly rain-fed paddy farming is practiced, is highly
vulnerable to the natural disasters and other negative impacts of CC. This
study was conducted to assess the status of CC using long term metrological
data and the perceptions of paddy farming community on CC in Kandy
district and to assess their awareness on CC and on adaptation to the CC
impacts. Yatinuwara Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSD) in the mid
country wet zone and Kundasale DSD in the mid country intermediate zone
were selected for the study. Using multistage sampling, 32 farmers were
selected from 12 villages of each DSD for the social survey. Meteorological
data for 33 years for the DSDs were collected from the Department of
Agriculture, Sri Lanka. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used
in the analysis. Results showed that the mean annual rainfall and rainy days
have been increased in both DSDs and the mean annual temperature has
increased in Yatinuwara. Majority of the respondents in Kundasale (84%)
and Yatinuwara (81%) believed that there is a climate change in the area.
Perception analysis has shown that, Kundasale farmers had more correct
perceptions on CC than that of Yatinuwara. The farmers’ knowledge on
adaptation strategies to the CC, overall attitudes on CC were significantly
higher than that of Yatinuwara. The level of education and income showed a
significant positive relationship with the overall attitudes on CC. It is
recommended to develop and implement strategies to communicate the past
trends and the predictions of CC correctly to the farmers. Data from
hundreds of rainfall stations available throughout the country would be
useful here. Conducting training programs to increase awareness and
changing attitudes of farmers on important adaptation strategies to the CC
such as soil moisture conservation also recommended.
