Assessing agricultural vulnerability to climate change through dynamic indexing approach

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Climate Change Adaptation
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Climate change poses significant risks to agricultural systems globally.
• Assessing regional vulnerability is crucial for developing effective adaptation strategies.
• Odisha's diverse agro-ecological zones necessitate district-specific vulnerability assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the agricultural vulnerability of Odisha's districts under climate change.
• To develop a comprehensive vulnerability index incorporating exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity.
• To inform the creation of localized adaptation strategies for climate resilience.

Main Methods:

• Utilized growth rate and instability of key performance indicators for vulnerability assessment.
• Employed normalized indicators weighted by crop acreage proportion for a composite index.
• Aggregated weighted components to derive a district-specific vulnerability index.

Main Results:

• Identified significant variations in agricultural vulnerability across Odisha's districts.
• Highlighted the need for "Location Performance Vulnerability"-based adaptation planning.
• Demonstrated the effectiveness of localized adaptation strategies in mitigating climate change impacts.

Conclusions:

• District-specific vulnerability assessments are essential for effective climate change adaptation in agriculture.
• Tailored strategies, including early warning systems and climate-resilient crop development, are critical.
• The study provides a framework for policymakers to enhance agricultural resilience at a local level.