Adaptation to climate change in homegarden agro-ecosystems: a case study in South Asia

Homegardens (HGs) are special food production systems in South Asia and climate change is one of the key global challenges that could adversely affect their functions. The present study aimed assessing the adaptation strategies used in HGs in three selected villages in Sri Lanka and one each in India and Bangladesh under a variable and changing climate. The variability in temperature and rainfall over the period 1961-2010 was analyzed using the historical data collected from the Meteorology Departments of the respective countries. The changes in the onset of rainfall to start the cultivating seasons were analyzed for the period 1991-2010. Socio-economic and agronomic data were collected using a questionnaire survey.The information on changes made to the HGs during the past 20 years and on adaptation strategies were recorded The rate of rise in nighttime minimum temperature is more pronounced than that of the daytime maximimum tempaerature, a phenomenon which has been evident in most parts of the world including the study sites. The onset of rains have shown a variability among the sites tested. Changes made to planting dates, agronomic practices, technology (use of new varieties and irrigation equipments) and use of soil and water conservation measures) were the strategies adopted in the HGs of selected villages in Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh that have enabled them to cope up with the changes in climate change to a greater degree. The type of employment, age, sex, education level of household head, experience in farming and HG size have influenced the decision of home gardeners to adopt a given strategy.