Farmers' perceptions of the nexus between climate change and food security : evidence from the northern and north western provinces of Sri Lanka | |
| Author | Navaratne, Thilani Lavanga |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.RD-20-03 |
| Subject(s) | Food security--Sri Lanka Climatic changes--Sri Lanka |
| Note | A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Regional and Rural Development Planning |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Climate change is a global phenomenon affecting multiple sectors of the economy of nations. Out of these sectors the agriculture sector faces immense challenges from climate risks. Farmers in Sri Lanka have been facing decreasing and unpredictable rainfall, increasing temperatures and extreme weather events such as floods and droughts throughout the past decade. Climate change has negatively impacted the agricultural productivity and food security status of the farmers in Sri Lanka. The present study aims to examine the nexus between food security of farming households and climate change in two key climate hotspots: Northern and the North western Provinces. A farming household survey consisting of 478 farmers was used as the key data collection tool, with focus group discussions to support the survey findings. The study examined the present conditions of food security of the farming households across all four dimensions of food security: availability, accessibility, utilization and stability. Farmer perceptions of climate change was examined via climate parameters; mean temperature, rainfall and extreme weather events. With the use of econometric models such as ordered logit model and the tobit model, the present study confirms that perceived climate change impacts food security of the farming households negatively. Having identified climate impacts, the relationship between climate adaptation behaviour and food security is established with the use of IV probit models. Finally, it is recommended that greater awareness and training should be provided to small and medium farmers on climate change, adaptation strategies and coping strategies for food security. The government officials together with the private sector has to embark on a new sustainable pathway to tackle climate change and food security challenges in Sri Lanka. At the policy design stage, policy directions in relation to food security, climate change adaptation and the national agriculture policy should be inter-linked well with an emphasis on inter-sectoral collaboration. |
| Year | 2020 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Szabo, Sylvia Maria |
| Examination Committee(s) | Tsusaka, Takuji W.;Ahmad, Mokbul Morshed |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Her Majesty the Queen’s Scholarships (Thailand) |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2020 |