Dairy Farmer Perception, Impact and Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change - A Case of Western Terai Nepal

Livestock sector plays key role on economy of rural farmers of Nepal. Current trend of global greenhouse gas emission and rising temperature has greatly impacted the livestock sector in several ways. This study, therefore, aimed to explore the livestock farmer's perception and adaptation strategies to climate change. The study used 120 sample households drawn from one of the potential livestock producing VDC of Dang district of Nepal. Households were selected from two VDCs using purposive simple random sampling. Primary data were gathered through household survey and Focus Group Discussion using structured and pretested interview schedule. The result revealed that majority (74%) of farmers were clearly aware of changes in climatic condition. Almost half of the farmers considered that self-experience was one of basic source of information to know the climatic variability followed by radio and neighbors. Major observed climatic hazards in study area were decrease water level in river, increase drought length and drought frequency. Milk yield, infertility and feed intake were major effects that farmer directly observed as climate change impact on dairy animals in study area. Farmer adapted major adaptation strategies were livestock diversification, involvement in natural resource conservation, interaction to extension personnel and involvement in cooperative. Unavailability of technology, lack of adaptation knowledge, weak government extension service and lack of credit facility were recommended area of intervention to decrease the risk of climate change among dairy farmers.