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Assessment of climate change and vulnerability in Indian state of Telangana for better agricultural planning

Theoretical and Applied Climatology volume 143, pages 309–325 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Climate variability and change pose ever-growing challenges in the semiarid tropics, where majority of the population depend on climate-dependent activities such as agriculture. This has rendered these countries more vulnerable to climate change–induced variability. In spite of the uncertainties about anticipated magnitude of climate change on regional scale, an assessment of the possible changes in key climatic elements to identify most vulnerable locations becomes important for formulating adaptation strategies. This study compiles the existing knowledge about observed climate and projections of future change in Telangana state of India. The agriculture in this semiarid state has to adapt to changes in mean climate variables to increased variability with greater risk of extreme weather events, such as prolonged dry spells. Based on climatic vulnerability assessment, we found that the number of vulnerable mandals (currently 28%) will be increased to 45% during early century and to 59% by mid-century. As per the climate exposure index scores, Jogulamba-Gadwal district was found to be most sensitive. Overall, vulnerability index scores indicated that Adilabad, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Peddapalli, Suryapet, Wanaparthy, and Yadadri are extremely vulnerable districts in the state. The ranking of vulnerable mandals in each district envisages the need for a holistic approach for each mandal or a group of mandals to reduce their sensitivity though implementation of site-specific adaptation strategies to minimize climate-related shocks not only in agriculture but also in other sectors.

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Funding

This research work financed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India under The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) in the project “Resilient Agricultural Households through Adaptation to Climate Change in Mahbubnagar district, Telangana”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Guntur, India

    M. D. M. Kadiyala

  2. International Rice Research institute, Hà Nội, Vietnam

    Sridhar Gummadi

  3. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, 502 324, India

    Mohammad A. Irshad, Ramaraj Palanisamy, Murali Krishna Gumma & Anthony Whitbread

Authors
  1. M. D. M. Kadiyala
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  2. Sridhar Gummadi
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  3. Mohammad A. Irshad
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  4. Ramaraj Palanisamy
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  5. Murali Krishna Gumma
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  6. Anthony Whitbread
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. D. M. Kadiyala.

Additional information

The state of Andhra Pradesh was reorganized into states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014, and 21 new districts were created on 11 October 2016, which lead to 31 districts in Telangana. On 17 February 2019, two more districts were formed taking the total number of districts to 33. This latest change was not accounted for present analysis and we used 31 districts only.

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Kadiyala, M.D.M., Gummadi, S., Irshad, M.A. et al. Assessment of climate change and vulnerability in Indian state of Telangana for better agricultural planning. Theor Appl Climatol 143, 309–325 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-020-03425-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-020-03425-8

Keywords

  • Climate change
  • Vulnerability
  • Agriculture and adaptation

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