Abstract:
The major challenge posed before the entire world today is Climate Change
(CC) or global warming. CC phenomena have been widely reported over the
past few decades. Famers have been gradually adapting to agricultural patterns
since the beginning of human civilization. This study focuses on how farmers
have adapted to CC in Sri Lanka. The Neththipalagama Grama Niladhari
Division (GND) of the Mahawa Divisional Secretariat in the Kurunegala
District was selected as the study area for this research. Primary and secondary
data were used for this research. Primary data were collected using
questionnaires, focus group discussion, and field observation while secondary
data was collected reports, magazines, books, and the internet. The survey was
done 30 selected individuals under the simple random sampling method. Data
analysis was completed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Analyze
data were displayed using tables, charts, and maps. The study showed that the
total land area of farming lessened from 65% to 40% from the year 2000 to
2018. Also, the annual rainfall has decreased from 2000 mm to 1800mm by
the above period. The 55% of farmers engaged in the agricultural sector in the
study area, 40% of them used various agricultural adaptations methods, such
as short-term crops, new seeds and substitute crops. To minimize this
situation, it is ultimately possible to identify different methods of irrigation,
generate new seeds using innovative methods and distribute new seeds and
introduce a new market for crops that can alter farmers' incomes.
