Climate change perception and adaptation among indigenous farmers: A study on Thamis of Dolkha district, Nepal

Keywords: Climate change, Agriculture, Vulnerability, Migration.
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 2/25/2022 03:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/25/2022 05:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 24

Abstract

Anthropogenic climate change has become a global crisis today. The disproportionate impact of climate change on the indigenous communities and ethnic minorities living in rural parts of the world, particularly in developing nations, has usually been the highlight of the research findings in the past few decades. These indigenous communities have a close relationship with their natural surroundings. The intergenerational exchange with their natural environment has allowed them to harness deep knowledge that provides clues into the local microclimatic conditions, which are passed on from older to younger generations, shaping their climate perceptions and subsistence agricultural practices.
By using a mixed-method approach, this research studies the climate perceptions and local adaptation practices of the indigenous Thami community residing in the Dolakha District of Nepal. As Thamis rely on subsistence farming for their livelihood, this study concentrates on the impacts of climate change on their agricultural practices. The results show that the agricultural practices of Thamis were severely affected by the changes in their local climatic conditions. Though they were practicing various adaptation strategies, new environmental risks emerged each year, threatening their livelihood. Uninformed use of modern technology such as pesticides and hybrid seeds for adaptation came with their own complications. Ultimately, they are forced to migrate to the urban areas and seek different labor-intensive work to feed themselves and their families which also increases their vulnerability. Hence, the findings show that Thamis have been bearing the brunt of climate change, despite having no hand in the current global climate crisis.