Written by Udai
Research Intern,
Jindal Centre for the Global South,
O.P. Jindal Global University, India
The climate change phenomenon has become evident in practically all regions of the world, with some natural ecosystems (which are more vulnerable to it) suffering worse consequences than others. These consequences extend to the natural environment of a region as well as on its local communities and their livelihoods. However, unlike the developed countries of the world, which are far more technologically and economically capable of effectively adapting to and even mitigating these consequences, such fragile ecosystems within developing countries are not as well protected and are, therefore, more prone to the varied socio-economic consequences of climate change. One such vulnerable area is the administrative region of Kumaon, one of the two divisions of the north Indian state of Uttarakhand. Spreading across a sizeable portion of the Himalayan Mountain range and its foothills within the state, one of the most significant economic activities (alongside tourism) within Kumaon is agriculture, which served as the key source of income for around 70% of the population of Uttarakhand, according to 2012 data by Partnership for Resilience and Preparedness (n.d.). As mountainous biomes are more vulnerable to the consequences of climate change (Coroneo, 2023), the region’s agricultural sector would be more prone to disruptions to its patterns. This blog explores the specific environmental consequences of climate change experienced most significantly within the Kumaon region (or Uttarakhand as a whole), the specific impacts being experienced by agricultural workers in the region, and possible steps which are being (or can be) taken to reduce the degree of vulnerability of local agricultural workers.
There are two main consequences of climate change, particularly impacting agricultural workers within the region of Kumaon. These include the changing rainfall patterns and the increasing prominence of forest fires within the state. The changing rainfall patterns, as discussed by Singh et al. (2021), in the region are readily evident through the fact rainfall variability is higher in the lower-altitude sections of Kumaon (where more agricultural activity occurs) as compared to the higher-altitude sections of the Himalayas. A wide range of crops are grown in Kumaon across different seasons- these include wheat, rice, sugarcane, maize, soybean, and various fruits and vegetables (Partnership for Resilience and Preparedness n.d.). Due to this variety, agricultural practices rely on an inevitable rainfall trend for irrigation. As a result, excessive or unusual rainfall in certain parts of the year, or a general lack of rainfall, can severely disrupt agricultural patterns.
Similarly, as explained by Charles (2022), the increasing number of cases in forest fires within Uttarakhand also threatens the agricultural output within Kumaon. These forest fires have become more frequent due to global warming, as dry leaves and grass are more prone to catching fire as temperatures during the summers are relatively higher. Not only are such incidences devastating for the local ecosystem and biodiversity, but they also hinder agricultural production as the smoke released from such fires reduces the availability of sunlight in nearby farmland, limiting the process of photosynthesis within crops (Charles, 2022) and thereby reducing agricultural output.
Unsurprisingly, these impacts from climate change have implicit consequences for agricultural workers within Kumaon, whose livelihoods are based on growing and selling these crops. This is especially true for smaller-scale farmers and farmers from socially or economically marginalized communities (Coroneo, 2023), as they face incredible difficulty adapting to climate change since they cannot use government adaptation initiatives. This is due to the high financial costs involved, which would require a significant investment into land and/or capital, which such farmers cannot make (Coroneo, 2023). In several cases, smaller-scale, female farmers are increasingly vulnerable to the impacts on agriculture, as they often work on farmland which belongs to someone else, and they are expected to share a portion of their earnings with the landowner (Coroneo, 2023). As agricultural output falls, so do the already-strained earnings of these farmers. This highlights a direct, negative relationship between the consequences of climate change and the income of agricultural workers within Kumaon. Due to the rural setting of the hills where agriculture occurs, there are low prospects of alternate economic opportunities (Climate Change Forces Uttarakhand Farmers to Migrate, 2021). This has caused many agricultural workers (many of whom belong to a relatively younger demographic) to migrate from the hilly regions of Kumaon towards the plains of Uttarakhand, where more economically stable work is available (Climate Change Forces Uttarakhand Farmers to Migrate, 2021).
Despite these consequences, there are several ways in which agricultural workers in Kumaon could reduce their vulnerability to climate change. Firstly, as described by Barakoti and Ansari (2019), increasing awareness (about climate change as a phenomenon and what it can do) among farmers through readily available and accessible sources of information could allow these workers to prepare for imminent consequences in advance (such as by adjusting crop schedules), and reduce the severity of impact on agricultural produce. While this would be categorised as an adaptation measure, a mitigation measure often carried out by farmers within the district of ‘Ramgarh’ is rainwater harvesting (Jha, 2020). This involves creating large pits in the farmland during excessive rainfall, which could be stored and collected. Not only does this process preserve rainwater, which could be used to irrigate crops during periods with unusually low rainfall, but it also reduces soil erosion as less excessive rainfall would be drained through the soil (Jha, 2020).
To conclude, as climate change continues to occur and become more severe, it shall become increasingly essential to ensure food security is not compromised and cause a shortage within countries with large (and growing) populations such as India. As agriculture remains one of the largest employing sectors in many countries within the Global South, protecting those employed in agriculture will also become imperative to ensure it remains a reliable source of income. This would help prioritize the stability of food security within developing countries while ensuring that a large proportion of the population (who are employed as agricultural workers) can consistently maintain their standard of living in the long run.
References
Barakoti, J., & Ansari, M. A. (2019). CLIMATE CHANGE INFORMATION NEEDS OF APPLE GROWERS IN KUMAON HILLS OF UTTARAKHAND. ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337227470_CLIMATE_CHANGE_INFORMATION_NEEDS_OF_APPLE_GROWERS_IN_KUMAON_HILLS_OF_UTTARAKHAND
Charles, K. (2022, June 1). Northern India caught in vicious cycle of heatwaves and forest fires. The Third Pole. https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/climate/northern-india-caught-in-vicious-cycle-of-heatwaves-and-forest-fires/
Climate change forces Uttarakhand farmers to migrate. (2021, May 17). Climate-Diplomacy. https://climate-diplomacy.org/magazine/environment/climate-change-forces-uttarakhand-farmers-migrate
Coroneo, J. (2023, July 11). Marginalised farmers struggle to adapt to climate change in Uttarakhand. The Third Pole. https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/food/marginalised-farmers-struggle-to-adapt-to-climate-change-uttarakhand/
Jha, P. (2020, June 6). Uttarakhand: How farmers in Kumaon used water harvesting to switch to fruit cultivation, earn more profits. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/how-farmers-in-kumaon-used-water-harvesting-to-switch-to-fruit-cultivation-earn-more-profits/articleshow/76222369.cms#
Singh, A., Rb, S., Anand, S., Mohanty, A., & Ss, D. (2021). Impact of climate change on rainfall pattern in Upper Kumaon Himalaya region. Research Square (Research Square). https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-631968/v1
Partnership for Resilience and Preparedness. (n.d.). Partnership for resilience and preparedness. https://www.prepdata.org/dashboards/uttarakhand-agriculture-dashboard-d7603478-1c73-40f5-a87f-68f11aed3c7d#:~:text=Agriculture%20is%20a%20significant%20contributor,predominantly%20engaged%20in%20subsistence%20farming.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author (s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Jindal Centre for the Global South or its members.
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