Grassroots Climate Resilience and Sustainable Agriculture: Evidence from Ranbir Singh Pura region, Jammu & Kashmir

This study explores the impacts of climate variability on agriculture and livelihoods in R.S. Pura, Jammu—a Basmati rice-growing region increasingly affected by heatwaves, erratic rainfall, and groundwater depletion. Using a qualitative case study approach, it draws on interviews with 60 farmers, focus group discussions, and field observations to examine farmers’ perceptions, adaptation strategies, and the role of institutional support in promoting sustainable agriculture.Findings reveal that while farmers are well aware of changing climatic conditions, their adaptation strategies—such as crop diversification, changes in sowing patterns, and organic farming—remain largely self-driven and unevenly practiced. The study finds that crop diversification toward less water-intensive crops is essential for climate resilience in R.S. Pura, but traditional practices and limited support hinder adoption. Farmers often resist adopting new crops due to risk aversion, limited awareness, lack of extension services, and the absence of assured markets. These barriers are particularly acute for small and marginal farmers, whose limited access to credit, irrigation, and institutional support makes them highly vulnerable to climate-induced risks.The study documents emerging examples of organic farming in border villages, where some farming households have shifted away from chemical-intensive practices in favor of low-input, sustainable alternatives. These transitions, though promising, face challenges such as financial constraints, certification bottlenecks, and inadequate infrastructural support.The study finds that despite the presence of assured irrigation sources such as the Ranbir Canal fed by the River Tawi, farmers in the Ranbir Singh Pura region are unable to depend on them for sustained agricultural activity due to poor maintenance and ineffective policy implementation. This has led to an increasing dependence on groundwater, which not only raises the cost of cultivation—particularly burdening small and marginal farmers—but also contributes to the rapid depletion of groundwater reserves, thereby exacerbating climate vulnerability in the region.The study concludes that effective climate adaptation in R.S. Pura requires context-specific strategies that integrate grassroots efforts with institutional support, including better extension services, rural infrastructure, climate literacy, and youth training in climate-smart agriculture. A localized, collaborative approach is key to protecting livelihoods amid growing climate risks.