Globally, regions experiencing pronounced impacts of 21st century anthropogenic warming are also those experiencing economic stress and social upheavals. Particularly vulnerable are agricultural societies in semi-arid regions (SARs) of emerging economies; several of such SARs societies have a colonial history and consequently, inherited colonial socioeconomic structures and practices. Over the past few decades, SARs in peninsular India, especially those in the state of Maharashtra, are marked by significant variability in temperature and precipitation. The Maharashtrian SARs have been experiencing frequent meteorological droughts; the magnitudes and spatial extent of these droughts have increased due to accelerating climate change. Combined with rapid population growth, expansion of water intensive cash crop agriculture and urban development, these droughts have emerged as major climatological stressors that have led to large-scale socioeconomic and human impacts, such as, crop failures, rural-urban migration and farmer suicides.

The objective for us— an interdisciplinary team of scientists and practitioners— is to engage with different members (representing different caste, age and gender) of farming communities in four of the most drought prone districts of Maharashra (Marathawada, Solapur, Beed and Vidarbha) to  understand how different members of communities think (especially in terms of risks and resilience) of the recurring droughts and other climate impacts (e.g. forest cover, soil quality, water quality, growing and harvesting seasons etc).

Our goal  is to add a strong community-engaged dimension to our ongoing reserach in the region that seeks to gain a comprehensive understanding of the return period, causes impacts, risks and resilience of agricultural communities to droughts – especially dry conditions that persist for several years or even decades.

• Field work

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  Location

  outside US

  Dates

  5/10/2021 - 5/14/2021

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  Not Applicable