Abstract
Climate change has emerged as a major challenge to agricultural production and rural livelihood security, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Bundelkhand. The present study was undertaken to assess farmers’ perceptions of climate change in the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh. The study was conducted in Jhansi and Chitrakoot districts, where six blocks and eighteen villages were selected through multistage sampling, and data were collected from 360 farmers. Farmers’ perceptions were assessed using structured statements covering changes in climatic conditions and their effects on agriculture. The collected data were analysed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, correlation and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that the majority of farmers (69.17%) had a medium level of perception of climate change, while 16.39% had a low level and 14.44% had a high level. Farmers expressed considerable concern regarding declining crop yields, reduced farm income, temperature fluctuations, irregular rainfall, livestock heat stress, fodder shortages and the adverse effects of extreme weather events. Correlation analysis revealed a negative and highly significant relationship between age and perception (r = −0.60), whereas education, landholding size, social participation, total income, economic motivation, risk orientation, innovativeness, mass media exposure and extension contact showed positive and highly significant relationships. The regression model explained 52.59% of the variation in farmers’ perception (R² = 0.526). In the regression model, farming experience (β = 0.59), risk orientation (β = 0.59) and extension contact (β = 0.23) were positively and significantly associated with perception, whereas age (β = −0.16) was negatively and significantly associated with perception. The findings highlight the need to strengthen agricultural extension services, climate-related information dissemination, farmer training and climate-smart agricultural interventions to enhance farmers’ understanding and resilience to climate change in Bundelkhand.