The impact of climate change on paddy production in Sri Lanka: with reference to Anuradhapura District

Abstract

Climate Change is defined as a statistically significant variation in either the mean state of the climate or in its variability, persisting for an extended period (typically decades or longer). Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forcing or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use. The problem of this study is if there is any impact on the paddy production in Sri Lanka due to climate change. The objective of this research is to identify the impact of climate change on paddy production in Sri Lanka, using both primary and secondary data. The climatic factors are changing very rapidly in Sri Lanka. To adapt to these changes, farmers, government institutions and other external agencies are providing several support mechanisms, but still there is a gap between farmers? adaptability with climate change and current level of support. To analyze the climate change adaptability of the farmers in Sri Lanka, this study uses primary data that have been collected through questionnaire survey on paddy producing farmers in the area of Anuradhapura district, North-Central province. The data has been analyzed by using descriptive statistics, ordered regression, percentile and scale. Farmers significantly believe that buying additional fertilizer from the market is not important for their current adaptation capability to climate change. As a consequence, 75.3% of the farmers never use extra fertilizer except the fully subsidized quantity. But, 41.4% farmers agree that government support is not enough to successfully cope with climate change. So, there is a gap between the current level of external supports and farmers? capability to adapt with climate change. Here, sustainability of agriculture and relevant livelihood are strongly dependent on the external supports. Therefore, farmers? adaptability to climate change needs to be focused beyond the incentive and subsidy. Farmers need some training and motivational supports for the necessary adoption. The findings of the study are important for the policy makers and relevant agencies.