DOI: 10.36347/sjebm.2016.v03i11.001

Pages: 587-595

The study was conducted in Dang district to analyse the farmer's perception, impact and vulnerability of dairy farming system in the context of changing climatic condition. Total 120 livestock farmers were selected from two VDCs using purposive simple random sampling. Primary data were collected through household survey and Focus Group Discussion using structured and pretested interview schedule. Descriptive statistics, integrated vulnerability approach based on principle component analysis and indexing were used to analyse the collected data. Agriculture was major source of household income for majority of respondent households (67.5%) following foreign employment (17.5%) and off farm activities (15%). The average livestock holding was nearly 16.81 livestock standard unit that contribute 31 percent to annual household income. A large majority of respondents (89.0%) observed the weather variation. Farmers perceived incidence of livestock disease (95%), decrease in milk yield (75.0%) and unavailability of feed and grasses (66.7%) as the major impact of climate change on livestock production. Most of respondents felt that extreme hot, drought spells, and floods were most prioritized climatic hazards in study area. Integrated vulnerability approach based on principle component analysis was used to analyze the livelihood vulnerability of livestock farmers. The vulnerability index of Dang district was found to be 4.4 which signified high risk of climate change in the district. The study concluded that farming practices and livelihood options of large portion of livestock farmers were affected negatively. Based on results, awareness raising program, effective adaptation strategy like livestock insurance, institutional enrollment and extension service with new technologies are recommended to enhance the adaptive capacity of vulnerable livestock communities in changing climatic scenario.