Adaptation to Environmental Changes: Experiences of Farming Practices in Sagar Island of the Indian Sundarbans

Abstract

The study examines farmers’ perception of climate change, associated natural disasters, and adaptive farming practices in the Sagar Island of the Indian Sundarbans region. The study is based on primary data and information collected from two selected villages of the area, namely, Beguakhali and Gangasagar. In addition, various environmental parameters such as variations in land surface temperature, annual average rainfall, and cyclonic disasters have been examined using Landsat 4/5 TM and 8/9 OLI data for the year 1990 and 2024, rainfall data since 1980, and data on the major cyclonic events affecting the Indian Sundarbans since 1991. The findings indicate a notable increase in surface temperature, a marginal decrease in average annual rainfall, and a rise in both the frequency and intensity of cyclonic disasters. The results are quite similar to what the local farmers perceive. Besides, cyclones, storm surges, and river bank erosion appear as the most devastating extreme events, contributing to salinity intrusion and agricultural land degradation in the area. Nevertheless, despite these environmental challenges, the farmers continue to cultivate during the monsoon and winter seasons. While a paddy-dominated mono-cropping pattern is practiced in monsoon, multiple vegetables and cash crops are cultivated interchangeably during the winter. The study also finds changes in cropping patterns, rainwater harvesting, crop rotation, and crop diversification as important adaptation strategies being practiced by the farmers. The policies and interventions should, therefore, aim at addressing these critical aspects for sustainable growth of agriculture in the area.