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This research was conducted to assess farmer's adaptation strategies of climate change in maize cultivation among Chepang and Non-Chepang communities in Chitwan. Pre-tested questioner, direct observation and secondary data were collected and used. Data analysis was done by using descriptive statistics, time series regression, Logit and seemingly unrelated regression model. Productivity of study area was found to be positively affected by total rainfall whereas negatively affected by average temperature. Majority of respondents (86.7%) were found to adopt any one of the climate change related adaptation strategies on maize cultivation. Among various adaptation strategies, mix cropping (66.3%) was found major in the study areas. Head of household, knowledge about climate change and economically active members in the family were positive determinant on adoption of climate change adaptation strategies.SUR model showed that education of household head, economically active member in the household, an involvement in extension/ training and maize production were major positively significant explanatory variables whereas age, gender of household head and involvement in an organization were major negatively significant explanatory variables in farmer's decision for adaptation of different climate change combating strategies. The study concluded that farmers of Chitwan perceived change in climate with negative effect on their maize cultivation practices. In comparison to Non-Chepang, Chepang farmers had less knowledge and adaptation practices. More focus from government and Nongovernment sector through proper policy implementation and technology intervention is needed to support this backward community. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 8(1): 71-77

This paper reviews recent literature concerning effects of climate change on agriculture and its agricultural adaptation strategies, climate change impacts on Chepang communities and their maize farming. Climate change is perhaps the most serious environmental threat to agricultural productivity. Change in temperature and precipitation specially has greater influence on crop growth and productivity and most of these effect are found to be adverse. Climate change has been great global threat with global temperature rise by 0.83 °C and global sea level rise by 0.19 m. Poor countries of the world are more vulnerable to changing climate due to different technological, institutional and resource constraints. In context of Nepal, practices like tree plantation, lowering numbers of livestock, shifting to off farm activities, sloping agricultural land technology (SALT) and shifting cultivation are most common coping strategies. Chepang, one of the most backward indigenous ethnic groups of Nepal are also found to perceive change in the climate. Perception and adaptation strategies followed by different farmers of world including Chepang is mainly found to be effected by household head's age, size of farm, family size, assessment to credit, information and extension service, training received and transportation. Maize is second most important crop in Nepal in which increase in temperature is favorable in Mountain and its yield is negatively influenced by increase in summer rain and maximum temperature. Local knowledge of indigenous people provides new insights into the phenomenon that has not yet been scientifically researched. So, government should combine this perceptive with scientific climate scenario and should conduct activities in term of adoption strategies and policies to insist targeted and marginalized farmers.

A total of 120 sample households were randomly selected from two municipalities of Surkhet for this study. The primary data were collected by survey questionnaire, direct observation, FGD whereas secondary data of rainfall temperature and rice productivity were collected from different sources. Majority of farmers perceived increase in temperature, decrease in rainfall frequency, decrease in rainfall duration and increase in flooding hazard during rainy season. Trends analysis of temperature and rainfall data over 35 years (1980-2015) showed, increasing trends of maximum temperature (0.06oC/year) and minimum temperature (0.03oC/year) which were in the line with the farmer's perception. Trend analysis revealed that total annual precipitation was decreasing by 3.77 mm/year while monsoon rainfall was increasing by 0.051 mm/year. About 20% respondents had clear knowledge on climate change. The major source of information was media (43.43%) and self-experiences (36.3%). The major climate change adaptation practices adopted by farmers were use of drought resistant varieties, flood resistant varieties, use of electric water pump, and use of local irrigation channel. The study showed that only 39.17% of the respondents know about crop insurance policy and only 6.66% of the total respondents done crop insurance on different crop. The regression analysis showed that rainfall and average maximum temperature has positive effect on yield and production. The study showed that farmers were positive to adapt climate change adaptation strategies. So, government and policy makers should focus on climate resilient adaptation strategies formulation for rice cultivation through intensive research and extension package. Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 7, Issue-4: 202-213

xiii Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the major staple food crop of Nepal. A research was conducted in December, 2019 to examine the economic viability of organic rice farming and factors affecting its adoption. Fulbari area of Chitwan district of Nepal was purposively selected for this study on consultation with Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Chitwan and review of past works which showed good practice of organic rice farming. A total of 100 farm households, 50 organic and 50 inorganic were selected using simple random sampling. Primary data were collected through a pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule, while secondary data were collected from related publications. The probit regression analysis showed that the six variables were statistically significant for the decision to adopt organic rice farming, they are: number of schooling years of the household head (p= 0.014), annual household income from agriculture (p= 0.012), membership of any agricultural organization (p= 0.000), subsidy in other inputs in addition to seed and fertilizers (p= 0.000), area of rice cultivated land (p= 0.007) and awareness on climate change (0.086). The benefit cost ratio of organic rice production (2.2) was higher as compared to inorganic (1.9) which showed that the profitability in organic rice production was higher than in inorganic. Furthermore, indexing identified- lengthy certification process (0.85) as the first major hindrance in adoption of organic rice farming followed by lack of proper organic market (0.68), high cost of organic seed and fertilizer (0.56), lack of knowledge and trainings on organic farming (0.48) and lack of government support such as grants and premium price (0.44) as the second, third, fourth and fifth hindrances respectively. The government should promote organic rice farming, prioritizing the small scale and marginal farmers by giving subsidies and premium, facilitating in certification and marketing, and providing knowledge about climate change.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the major staple food in the Nepalese context. Chitwan district of Nepal was purposively selected to analyze the rice production from the socio-economic and environmental perspective. A total of 100 rice growing farmers, 50 organic and 50 inorganic were selected as the sample for the purpose of the study using the simple random method of sampling. Primary data were collected through a pre-tested semi-structure interview schedule and key informant interviews; secondary data were collected reviewing related publications. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression and chi-square test were used for data analysis. The multiple regression revealed that the four explanatory variables included in the model: age of the household head, primary occupation of the household head, number of family members involved in agriculture and subsidy in inputs for rice farming were found to have positive and statistically significant effect on rice yield (P<0.01). Moreover, chi-square test revealed that the farming practices that contributes to climate change mitigation such as: minimum tillage practice (P<0.05), crop diversification (P<0.01), green manuring (P<0.01), agro forestry practice (P<0.05), incorporating crop residues (P<0.1), weed management practice (P<0.01) and pest management practice (P<0.01)were found to be well adopted by the organic rice farmers, in contrast, the farming practices of inorganic rice farmers were statistically and significantly different in this respect. Government should make such policy that could grave the attention of the Nepalese people towards organic agriculture; moreover, encouraging them to make it their primary occupation.