International Journal of Environment and Climate Change

Volume 15, Issue 10, Page 459-466, 2025; Article no.IJECC.145221

ISSN: 2581-8627
(Past name: British Journal of Environment & Climate Change, Past ISSN: 2231–4784)

Assessment of Perceived Constraints

and Suggestions of Farmers towards
Climate Change Adaptation Using
Garret Ranking Approach
Pawan Kumar Gupta a++, Harish Chandra Singh a#,
Uma Sah b†, Munish Kumar a†, Shivam Singh a++
and Nitin Rajput c++*
a Department of Agricultural Extension Education, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture
and Technology, Kanpur, UP (208002), India.
b Division of Social Science, ICAR-IIPR, Kanpur, UP (208002), India.
c Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar, Banaskantha,

Gujrat (385506), India.

Authors’ contributions

This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. All authors read and approved the final
manuscript.

Article Information
DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2025/v15i105075

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Original Research Article Received: 15/08/2025

Published: 18/10/2025

ABSTRACT
Climate change refers to any change in climate over time, either due to natural variability or as a
result of human activity. Against this backdrop, understanding constraints and perceived suggestion
by the farmers towards climate change becomes essential for designing context-specific strategies
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
++
Research Scholar;
#
Professor;
†
Head;
*Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected];

Cite as: Pawan Kumar Gupta, Harish Chandra Singh, Uma Sah, Munish Kumar, Shivam Singh, and Nitin Rajput. 2025.
“Assessment of Perceived Constraints and Suggestions of Farmers towards Climate Change Adaptation Using Garret Ranking
Approach”. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change 15 (10):459–466.
https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2025/v15i105075.
 Gupta et al.; Int. J. Environ. Clim. Change, vol. 15, no. 10, pp. 459-466, 2025; Article no.IJECC.145221

that enhance resilience and ensure sustainable agricultural growth. The present study carried out in
Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. All districts of Bundelkhand region were selected for study.
Further, one block from each district and selected block, two villages were randomly selected. Total
375 households were selected for the collection of data. The study showed that most of the farmers
challenge poor digital literacy, lack of extension support, shortage of labour availability in peak
season and small and fragmented land holding. To address these issue farmers suggested climate
change adaptation viz: changing cropping pattern, ground water recharge, alternative sources for
livelihood with farming, agro forestry practices and formation of farmer groups/SHGs/FPOs. The
study suggested the needs for targeted awareness and capacity-building programs for farmers.
Strengthening climate literacy, ensuring the availability of climate-resilient technologies, and
building strong farmer-to-farmer learning networks will be crucial to enhancing the community’s
resilience to climate change.

Keywords: Climate change; adaptation; challenges; Bundelkhand; farmers.

1. INTRODUCTION need to understand how farmers in developing

countries who face poverty challenges respond
Climate change has reduced food security and and adapt to climate change. Understanding
affected water security, hindering efforts to meet farmers’ climate change perceptions, adaptation
Sustainable Development Goals (IPCC, 2023). In strategies, and constraints is one way to improve
this climate change era, agriculture is the most societal resilience and adaptation to climate
threatened sector because of its dependency on change and identify critical areas of policy
local weather conditions. It has undergone rapid intervention (Olumba et al. 2024). However,
transformation in the past two decades; the there are constraints to climate change
policies of globalization and liberalization have adaptation due to insufficient funding, inadequate
opened up new avenues for agricultural technological know-how, institutional capacity
modernization. Agriculture is the most important and lack of understanding of climate change
occupation for most of the Indian families. Over issues (Masud et al. 2017). It is becoming
58% of the rural households depend on increasingly necessary to determine adaptation
agriculture as their principal means of livelihood barriers and proper strategies for farmers to
(Ramilan et al., 2022). Agriculture, along with minimize the hostile impacts of climate change in
fisheries and forestry, is one of the largest the national economy. Therefore, the purpose of
contributors to the Gross Domestic Product this study is to analyze the adaptation challenges
(GDP). In India, agriculture contributes about on climate change and adaptation strategies in
sixteen percent (16%) of total GDP and ten Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh.
percent (13%) of total exports (Kotishwar, 2018).
54.6% of the total workforce is engaged in 2. METHODOLOGY
agriculture and allied sector activities (Census
2011) and accounts for 18.4% of India's GVA at The district, blocks, villages, and farmers were
current prices during 2022-23 (Annual Report selected using a multistage sample design. The
MA&FW, 2024-25). Climate change is a study area pertains to Bundelkhand region of
challenge for sustainable development. It affects Uttar Pradesh. In the first stage seven districts
all the sectors directly or indirectly. It refers to viz; Banda, Chitrakoot Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur,
any change in climate over time, either due to Hamirpur and Mahoba, so all district were
natural variability or as a result of human activity selected for study. Compared to any other region
(IPCC, 2007). According to global climate risk of Uttar Pradesh, Bundelkhand is historically
assessment (Eckstein et al. 2018), India is one of more vulnerable to climate change. In second
the most vulnerable countries to climate risks. In stage one block from each district was selected
India, mountains, coastal and arid zones are i.e. Mahua block from Banda district, Pahari
considered highly vulnerable. In this climate block from Chitrakoot district, Panvadi block from
change era, agriculture is the most threatened Mahoba district, Sarila block from Hamirpur
sector because of its dependency on local district, Dakor block from Jalaun district,
weather conditions. Climate change Baragaon block from Jhansi district and
consequences include the melting of glaciers, Jakhaura block from Lalitpur district. Thus, total
more precipitation, extreme weather events and seven blocks were selected randomly. After the
shifting seasons (Yildiz et al. 2022). There is a selection of block, in the third stage two villages

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were selected from each selected block. Thus, a 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
total of fourteen villages namely; Bansi, Deorar,
Archha Barethi, Audaha, Pahariya, Mahua Itaura, Table 1 showed that respondents use the Garrett
Mankahri, Lodhipura, Kusmiliya, Mohammdabad, Ranking Technique to assign scores to various
Kakruwa, Bamhori Kalan, Phutera, and Johri constraints according to the severity of a
khurd were selected by simple random consequence they have.
techniques. In the fourth stage, after determining
the overall sample size of 375 households using Among the socio-personal issues confronting
Yamane’s (1964) formula, were selected. farmers, poor digital literacy has the highest
mean ranking of 58.86, which points to a major
The research utilized primary data. A pre-tested obstacle in accessing contemporary agriculture
and structured scheduled procedure, coupled knowledge and technology. Low risk-taking
with wide farm visits and personal interviews ability (54.20) comes next, which captures
were used to gather primary data for this farmers' reluctance to embrace new ways of
research. The data were collected during 2024. doing things in fear of failure or uncertainty. Poor
Garrett's ranking technique was used to analyse social network follows with a score of 50.58,
the challenges and suggestions experienced by implying weak peer support or cooperation
the farmers for effective climate change between farmers. Inability to understand complex
adaptation. practices scores 43.25, indicating that technical
intricacy in farming practices is a challenge to
2.1 Garrett’s Ranking Technique optimum implementation. The Communication
gap among farmers ranks the lowest with 33.68,
The translation of constraints and suggestions reflecting poor interpersonal communication that
ordering into numerical values is offered by can inhibit information sharing and joint problem-
Garrett's Ranking Technique. The primary solving.
advantage of this method over a simple
frequency distribution is that, from the point of The greatest technical-related challenge
view of the respondents, the constraints and identified is the lack of extension support (68.23),
suggestion are ranked in terms of severity. reflecting that farmers and stakeholders lack
Consequently, the same number of interviewees proper guidance or services required to adopt
on two or more constraints and suggestion may climate change adaptation strategies (CCAS).
have gotten a different ranking. Garret’s score This is closely followed by the Lack of awareness
method was applied to ascertain the most about climate change (56.51), reflecting a
supreme constraints and suggestion among the general ignorance about the causes and effects
groups as perceived by farmers. The formula for of climate change among the target group. Lack
percent position suggested by garret (1980) is of awareness regarding CCAS is the third
given below: highest (56.45), indicating that even when
(Rij −0.5)
climate change is known, there is limited
Precent position = 100 × knowledge on adapting to it. Lacks of specialized
Nj
training in climate change adaptation (49.59) are
Were, fourth on the list, indicating the absence of skill
building required to execute valid adaptive
Rij = Rank given for the ith variable by jth measures. Ineffectiveness of weather based agro
respondent advisory services (35.27) is next, reflecting
Nj = Number of variables ranked by jth shortcomings in timely and precise agricultural
respondent advisories to guide farmers to adapt their
practices. Finally, Lack of documented ITKs
The table provided by Garrett and Woodworth is technique on CCAS (33.55) is also mentioned as
utilized to transform the percentage position to the least urgent but still applicable issue,
scores. After aggregating individual factor implying the underutilization or lack of proper
scores, the mean score and total score are documentation of traditional knowledge systems
determined. To facilitate it being simpler to in adaptation processes.
determine the most significant elements based
on the assigned ranks, the mean scores for Among the economic-related issues, the most
every factor are then arranged in descending urgent one is the Shortage of labour availability
order. The most important factor in the research in peak season (61.68), which severely impedes
is the factor with the highest mean value. timely farm operations and productivity. Ranked

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very close to it is the lack of availability of In the resource-related issues, the highest-
institutional credit (59.01), which means farmers ranked problem is Small and fragmented land
have a hard time accessing formal financial holdings (62.88), which restricts the scalability
assistance for climate change adaptation or any and efficiency of farming activities, rendering it
general agricultural requirements. High premium more challenging to adopt climate change
rate of crop/livestock insurance (50.66) are third adaptation measures. This is followed by
on the list, being a financial constraint that deters Undulated land (60.27), which creates physical
most from insuring their properties. Poor barriers for farming, particularly in adopting new
disbursements of insurance claim under PMFBY technologies or irrigation. Third is the lack of
(44.73) are fourth on the list, which erodes storage infrastructure (49.65), indicating post-
confidence in insurance programs because it harvest management challenges and heightened
results in delayed or unsatisfactory settlements. exposure to crop loss. Followed by this is lack of
Lack of institutional support for FPOs/SHGs veterinary facilities (36.07), which impacts
(42.89) comes next, indicating structural livestock health and productivity, essential for
constraints that counteract collective resilience most mixed farming systems. Lastly, the lack of
development. Lastly, the high cost associated availability of community resources (34.36) is
with CCAS (39.62) is also a critical challenge, but determined to be the least critical of the resource
the least severe of all that have been mentioned, problems, although important, which reflects a
highlighting the importance of cost-saving and scarcity of common infrastructure or inputs
subsidized adaptation. available to facilitate collective adaptation.

Table 1. The challenges experienced by the farmers for effective climate change adaptation

S. No. Challenges Total score Mean score Rank

A. Socio-Personal Challenges 90213 18042.60 Ⅳ
1. Poor social network 18968 50.58 Ⅲ
2. Inability to understand complex practices 16217 43.25 Ⅳ
3. Poor digital literacy 22072 58.86 Ⅰ
4. Low risk-taking ability 20326 54.20 Ⅱ
5. Communication gap among farmers 12630 33.68 Ⅴ
B. Technical Related Challenges 112354 18725.67 Ⅰ
1. Lack of awareness regarding CCAS (Climate change 21167 56.45 Ⅲ
adaptation strategies)
2. Lack of awareness about climate change 21191 56.51 Ⅱ
3. Lack of extension support 25587 68.23 Ⅰ
4. Lack of specialized training in climate change 18598 49.59 Ⅳ
adaptation
5. Lack of documented ITKs technique (for CCAS) 12583 33.55 Ⅵ
6. Ineffectiveness of weather based agro advisory 13228 35.27 Ⅴ
services
C. Economic Related Challenges 111972 18662.00 Ⅱ
1. Shortage of labour availability in peak season 23129 61.68 Ⅰ
2. Lack of availability of institutional credit 22130 59.01 Ⅱ
3. High premium rate of crop/livestock insurance 18998 50.66 Ⅲ
4. Poor disbursement of insurance claim under PMFBY 16775 44.73 Ⅳ
5. High cost associated with CCAS 14856 39.62 Ⅵ
6. Lack of institutional support for FPOs/SHGs 16084 42.89 Ⅴ
D. Resource Related Challenges 91209 18241.80 Ⅲ
1. Small and fragmented land holdings 23579 62.88 Ⅰ
2. Undulated land 22600 60.27 Ⅱ
3. Lack of availability of community resources 12885 34.36 Ⅴ
4. Lack of storage infrastructure 18620 49.65 Ⅲ
5. Lack of veterinary facilities 13525 36.07 Ⅳ

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3.1 Ranking of Constraints through the component of ‘technical related challenges’

Component Wise by the Farmers for with the rank 1, followed by ‘economic related
Effective Climate Change Adaptation challenges’, ‘resource related challenges’, and
‘socio-personal challenges’ with rank 2, rank 3
Fig. 1 shows the constraints in each of four and rank 4, respectively. It can be well
components separately. It is clear from the figure understood that there is a need for address
that the constraints were found most effective in technical and economic related challenges.

Socio-Personal
Challenges
19000

18500
Ⅳ
18000
Resource Related Technical Related
17500
Challenges Challenges
Ⅲ Ⅰ

Ⅱ
Economic Related
Challenges

Fig. 1. Ranking of Constraints through Component wise by the farmers for effective climate
change adaptation

Table 2. The suggestions given by the farmers for effective climate change adaptation

S. No. Suggestions Total Score Mean Score Rank

A. Crop and Land Management 92613 246.97 Ⅱ
1. Diversification of crops 19658 52.42 Ⅲ
2. Climate resilient varieties 16403 43.74 Ⅳ
3. Changing cropping patterns 23158 61.75 Ⅰ
4. Soil health management 20530 54.75 Ⅱ
5. Integrated pest and disease management 12864 34.30 Ⅴ
B. Water and Irrigation Management 81600 217.60 Ⅲ
1. Rain water harvesting 19871 52.99 Ⅱ
2. Efficient (Drip/Sprinkler) irrigation methods 19197 51.19 Ⅲ
3. Ground water recharge 23757 63.35 Ⅰ
4. Community based water sharing 18775 50.07 Ⅳ
C. Livestock and Allied activities Management 68796 183.46 Ⅳ
1. Integration of livestock with farming 18177 48.47 Ⅱ
2. Fodder management 17071 45.52 Ⅲ
3. Properly vaccination 13755 36.68 Ⅳ
4. Alternative sources for livelihood with farming 19793 52.78 Ⅰ
D. Natural Resource Management 47738 127.30 Ⅴ
1. Agro forestry practices 16204 43.21 Ⅰ
2. Afforestation on wastelands 15767 42.05 Ⅱ
3. Community pastureland development 15767 42.05 II

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S. No. Suggestions Total Score Mean Score Rank

E. Institutional and collective efforts 93459 249.22 Ⅰ
1. Formation of farmer groups/SHGs/FPOs 24539 65.44 Ⅰ
2. Community seed banks 23608 62.95 Ⅱ
3. Training and Awareness 12885 34.36 Ⅳ
4. Use of ICTs and weather advisory services 18818 50.18 Ⅲ
5. Insurance and credit facilities 13609 36.29 Ⅴ

Table 2 shows that respondents use the Garrett income to minimize vulnerability to agriculture
Ranking Technique to assign scores to various under climate stress. This is followed by
suggestions according to the severity of a Integration of livestock with farming (48.47),
consequence they have. Among crop and land which favors a resource-use-efficient and
management, the strongest most recommended resilient farm approach. Fodder management
is Changing cropping patterns (61.75), with an takes the third position (45.52), emphasizing the
emphasis on altering planting dates and crop need for ensuring quality and regular feed supply
combinations to align more closely with evolving to livestock. Finally, properly vaccination (36.68)
climatic conditions. It is followed by soil health too is stressed, albeit lowest in ranking, as the
management (54.75), with a focus on keeping necessity for better animal healthcare to avoid
and enhancing soil fertility and structure to disease attacks and for maintaining livestock
improve resilience and productivity. The third- production is indicated.
highest recommendation is diversification of
crops (52.42), which reduces risk by diversifying In the area of natural resource management, the
the effects of climate-related hazards on different highest recommendation is the Agro forestry
crops. Then comes the uptake of climate-resilient practices (43.21), which combine trees with crop
varieties (43.74), which are genetically and/or livestock systems to enhance biodiversity,
developed to resist stresses like drought, pests, soil quality, and resilience to climate change.
or temperature stresses. Finally, integrated pest This is seconded by afforestation on wastelands
and disease management (34.30) also needs (42.05), where there is a call for re-growth of
consideration, but ranked lowest, suggesting the degenerated areas through planting trees to
need to manage pests and diseases with boost ecological balance and carbon
ecologically friendly and sustainable means as a sequestration. Ranked equally is community
response to climate-related shifts in pest pastureland development (42.05), which
dynamics. emphasizes value in enhancing communal
grazing land to increase livestock production and
In the field of water and irrigation management, alleviate pressure on natural ecosystems.
the most recommended measure is ground water
recharge (63.35), stressing the necessity of In the institution and collective effort, the highest
recharging underground water storage for future stressed strategy is Formation of farmer
water availability under shifting climate trends. groups/SHGs/FPOs (65.44), which helps to build
This is then followed by rainwater harvesting collective action, improved market linkages, and
(52.99), which advises capturing and conserving sharing of resources among farmers. This is
rainwater for use in agriculture, particularly followed by the Community seed banks (62.95),
during droughts. Efficient (Drip/Sprinkler) guaranteeing diverse and climate-smart seeds at
irrigation methods (51.19), encourage water- the local level. Third on the list is Use of ICTs
conserving technology that delivers water directly and weather advisory services (50.18), which
to root-level plants, avoiding wastage. facilitate timely access to vital information in
Community-based sharing of water (50.07) is order to make well-informed decisions in
also suggested, albeit the lowest rank, agriculture. Training and awareness (34.36)
emphasizing cooperative management of water follow, as emphasis needs to be placed on
at the local level for equitable distribution and capacity development to improve farmers'
effective use of limited water resources. knowledge and use of climate-smart practices.
Finally, insurance and credit facilities (36.29) are
In the area of livestock and allied activities also recommended, although rated lowest,
management, the most suitable strategy is the reflecting persistent demand for affordable
Alternative sources for livelihood with farming financial products to underpin risk management
(52.78), indicating the importance of diversifying and investment in adaptation measures.

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Crop and Land

Management
250 Ⅱ
200
150
Water and
Institutional and 100
Irrigation
collective efforts 50 Management
Ⅰ 0 Ⅲ

Ⅴ
Livestock and Allied
Natural Resource
Ⅳ activities
Management
Management

Fig. 2. Ranking of Suggestions through Component wise by the farmers for effective climate
change adaptation

Fig. 2 shows the suggestion in each of four Alternative sources for livelihood with farming is
components separately. It is clear from the figure a major suggestion in livestock and allied
that the constraints were found most effective in activities, Agro forestry practices to the top list in
the component of ‘intuitional and collective nature resource management, and Formation of
efforts’ with the rank 1, followed by ‘crop and farmer groups/SHGs/FPOs is a crucial
land management’, ‘water and irrigation suggestion in institutional and collective efforts.
management’, ‘livestock and allied activities
management’ and ‘natural resource DISCLAIMER (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)
management’ with rank 2, rank 3, rank 4 and
rank 5 respectively. It can be well understood Author(s) hereby declare that NO generative AI
that there is a need for provide intuitional and technologies
collective efforts and crop and land management.
COMPETING INTERESTS
4. CONCLUSION
Authors have declared that no competing
In conclusion, the study identifies four primary
interests exist.
constraints in the study area: socio-personal,
technical, economic and resource related
constraint. Notably, Poor digital literacy as a
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