Determinants of Farm Household Socio-Economic Vulnerability Induced by Climate Change in Maharashtra: Regression Tree Approach

Abstract

Climate change is a serious threat to the agrarian economy of Maharashtra due to persistent droughts, floods, irregular rainfall, etc. The present study was conducted during 2020–21 in three districts of Maharashtra (Parbhani, Sindhudurg and Ahmednagar) based on the extent of socio-economic vulnerability. The regression tree approach predicted the likelihood of socio-economic vulnerability in 180 randomly selected farm households. Findings indicated that improvement in visits of veterinary doctors, animals registered for feed camp, less consumption expenditure on food, and insuring farm animals resulted in a low vulnerability category. On the contrary, low access to electricity, low rainfall, and a higher number of unemployed members in a household resulted in a high level of socio-economic vulnerability. The study suggested focused policy efforts to improve the current socio-economic status of farm households by understanding the importance of closely associated variables affecting the degree of vulnerability to cope with climate change.