Disruption in Agricultural Pattern Due to Unpredictable Weather Conditions and its Effect on Farmer’s Family of Kishanganj District of Bihar

Abstract

The unpredictable weather conditions due to climate change have resulted in significant changes in global weather patterns, affecting various sectors across the world; mostly the agriculture sector which got affected. This study focusses on the changing agricultural patterns caused by climate change and their severe effects on farmers’ livelihoods in the Kishanganj District of Bihar. The purpose of this study is to look at the dynamic interaction between changing weather patterns and agricultural practices and the socioeconomic implications for the local farming community. This study intends (1) to explore farmers’ perceptions and their experience of climate change towards agricultural practices, (2) to understand the adaptive techniques used by farmers in the Kishanganj district of Bihar in response to altering the agricultural patterns, (3) to assess the socioeconomic consequences of shifting agricultural patterns on farmers’ lives. Through a comprehensive literature review and primary data collection, including in-depth interviews with local farmers, to discover variations in agricultural patterns, changing weather patterns, and changes in farming practices adopted by the farmers in response to unpredictable weather conditions. From the findings of this study, it is revealed that the agricultural sector in Kishanganj is extremely vulnerable to unpredictable weather patterns, such as severe droughts, unseasonal rainfall, and temperature variations. The changing weather patterns have resulted in significant crop loss, which resulted in lower agricultural production, less income, and more debt for farmers’ families. The negative effects of weather-related disruptions extend beyond economic factors, affecting both farmers’ families and food security.