Publications

Senapati, U; Das, U; Das, TK (2025). Spatio-temporal Scenario and Farmers' Perceptions of Agricultural Drought in the Context of Climate Change in a Drought-Prone River Basin of India. JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN SOCIETY OF REMOTE SENSING.

Abstract
The present study analyzes the spatio-temporal variation of agricultural drought and farmers' perceptions in the drought-prone semi-arid Dwarakeswar river basin. Using remote sensing data and primary data from 385 farmers, the study assesses climate change, agricultural drought, adaptation strategies and coping strategies over the study area. The Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) detects a significant change in precipitation and temperature in the study area. As per the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) indices, agriculture drought is increasing. The Vegetation condition index (VCI) value shows that a substantial portion of the study area was affected by agricultural drought in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2019. Further, the maximum extreme agricultural drought was found in 2019, while the pre-monsoon season experienced the maximum intensity of extreme agricultural drought, except for the winter season in 2000. Also, most farmers perceived that temperature has increased while rainfall decreased over the last three decades. Consequently, most farmers perceived that agricultural drought has increased, while the intensity of agricultural drought remains at its maximum during pre-monsoon. Owing to the unclear understanding of agricultural drought to most farmers, coupled with a lack of proper adaptation strategies and administrative mitigation measures, agricultural productivity was reduced by up to 40% in the study area. Therefore, the study recommends extending administrative mitigation measures, raising awareness of agricultural drought, providing empirical training on effective adaptation strategies and comprehensive crop insurance for minimizing the effects of agricultural drought, leading to the sustainable development of farmers' livelihoods.

DOI:
10.1007/s12524-025-02134-x

ISSN:
0974-3006