Climate Change Adaptation through Indigenous Technology Knowledge

Climate change is accepted as the greatest environmental and social threats for human civilization at present. I primarily examined (i) the perceptions of rural farmer about climate change and (ii) the role of ITK in adapting to the impacts of climate change. To carry out my research at Sahartara VDC of Dolpa district, I have used mixed research method (Survey and Ethnography). Mann Kendal Test verified that rainfall of the area has been decreased by 1.254 mm every year from 1984-2012 while minimum temperature is increasing and maximum Temperature is decreasing from 1991 to 2013, which is a sign of change in climate variability. Moreover, people have experienced gradual rise in temperature for a decade and facing erratic and unprecedented rainfall over same period. Their traditional methods of terrace farming, animal husbandry, avoiding chemical fertilizer and pesticides, leaving crop residue and fallow land is aiding them to protect land from erosion and landslide along with maintaining soil fertility. Practices such as managing crop timing, selection of the more resilient crops, crop rotation, and intercropping is helping them to fight against the food insecurity.