International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Dr. N Narmatha and Dr. V Uma

abstract
The global climate is changing rapidly, and it is imperative that the farmers can adequately adapt needed measures to mitigate the climate change. In order to adopt appropriate adaptation measures, farmers must first perceive that the climate is changing and they must consider this perception significant enough to motivate action. Over the past two decades, research on farmers' perceptions of climate change has grown, yet it remains limited—particularly in India, a country highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The present study was carried out in Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu and the data was collected by using structured interview schedule, collected data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Most of the respondents perceived increase in temperature (99.5%) and number of summer days (99%) but they perceived no change in diurnal variations (71%) during summer in irrigated and rainfed areas. Vast majority perceived decrease in number of rainy days (99%) and heavy downpour (95.00%) and delay in onset of monsoon (98%) during monsoon in both areas. Decrease in number of winter days were perceived by 94.37% and 89.37% in irrigated and rainfed areas respectively. Cent% of the respondents in both areas perceived increase in cost of fodder, concentrate feed and cost of raw materials and decrease in profit from milk (95.63% and 91.25%), milk production (91.88% and 96.25%), conception (80.00% and 85.63%), grazing land (96.88%), ground water level (94.5%) and availability of water (94%) respectively. Majority of the respondents correctly perceived the increase in temperature (100%) and number of summer days (98.5%); decrease in number of rainy days (99%), heavy down pour (95%) and delay in onset of monsoon (98%). Almost all the respondents wrongly perceived the diurnal variation.