Impact of Climatic Variability on Maize Production in Central Nepal

Agriculture is the mainstay of majority of population and source of livelihood for most of the Nepalese population. Mainly the smallholder farmers who practice subsistence agriculture are heavily affected by climate change and its impact in agriculture. Extreme climatic variation pattern is responsible for low agriculture production thus accelerating food insecurity problem. A survey research was conducted to study the impacts of climate variability on maize production in central Nepal. The study was conducted in Nilkantha municipalities 7 and 8 of Dhading and Chitrawan municipality, Gunjanagar of Chitwan. Sixty farmers from each site were selected randomly for the study. Primary data was collected from pre-tested interview schedule, direct observation and focus group discussion. Descriptive statistics along with trend analysis and logit regression model were used for analysis of the data. The total population under study was 616 dominated by Brahmin and chhetri (60.83 %) followed by Janjati (39.17%) community having economically active population 68.99% involving 40.42% agriculture as major occupation. Farmers in the study area gradually diverted towards other livelihood options like remittance, off farm activities, besides agriculture. 85% of total household were dominated by male while only 15% were female dominated. Majority of farmer (79.17%) perceived changes in climate variability in the recent years. Most of the farmer (49.17) reported that there has been erratic rainfall in both districts.86.67% of total household perceived that monsoon rainfall was shifted later. Study revealed that 90% of farmers perceived pest dynamics in the study area, 92.59% respondents felt increase in the pest population in compare to 10 years back, 76.85% of respondents experienced increase in the emergence of new pest and 34.26% respondents experienced pest resurgence. Farmers (90%) felt that summer temperature had been increasing and 48.33% of farmer perceived increased winter temperature. In Chitwan, annual average temperature and maximum temperature are decreasing but minimum temperature is increasing by 0.001⁰C whereas in Dhading maximum temperature is increasing in contrast to decreasing annual average and minimum temperature. The trend analysis strongly support the farmer perception that summer was hotter and winter was less cold as compared to the past in Dhading which is found contrasting in Chitwan. Average Seasonal maximum temperature significantly reduces the productivity in Chitwan whereas in Dhading, average seasonal minimum temperature significantly reduces maize productivity. To cope the impacts of climate change various adaptation measures were used by the farmers from their own experience by adjusting their farming practices like more quantity manure and fertilizer used, change of variety, shift in sowing time, crop diversification and irrigation management.