Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

LIVELIHOOD VULNERABILITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN RURALTRIPURA, INDIA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE TRIBAL ANDNON-TRIBAL HOUSEHOLDS

Niranjan Roy, Avijit Debnath, Sunil Nautiyal3 and Munmi Sarma

Abstract

Climate change is a harsh reality that has a significant impact on livelihood strategies in general, andagricultural-based ones in particular. Agriculture is the principal source of livelihood in the majority ofNorth Eastern states, including Tripura. In the absence of alternate employment opportunities and plannedactivities, people’s livelihoods are likely to suffer as a result of climatic variability. In this context, the LVIIPCCtechnique has been used to explain the extent of climate vulnerability among tribal viz-a-viz nontribalpopulation of Tripura. A total of 400 respondents from 40 villages of two districts in Tripura aresurveyed based on a combination of informal interviews, a questionnaire survey, and FocusedGroupDiscussions (FGD). The findings suggested that tribal households were more exposed toclimate change.Furthermore, because of their greater sensitivity and lesser adaptation capacity, they were morelikely to bevulnerable to climate change than non tribal households. The findings provide a scientific basis forpolicymakers in rural Tripura to priorities options to strengthen livelihood capitals and climate change adaptation ability.