Evaluating the changes in climate and its implications on peri -urban agriculture

This paper provides an overview of changing climatic context in Kathmandu valley based on the analysis of temperature and rainfall data and perception of local people on key climatic variables. Perceived changes in climate, its impacts on peri -urban agriculture and adaptation strategies practiced by peri -urban farmers were assessed using par ticipatory tools and household questionnaire survey at four peri -urban villages in Kathmandu valley. Temperature in Kathmandu showed an increasing trend while rainfall was erratic with no distinct pattern. The impacts of these changes on agriculture have b een primarily negative with increase in crop pests and diseases and decline in the crop production. The adaptive strategies evolved include shifts in cropping dates, switch towards drought tolerant crop varieties and application of technological inputs to increasing climatic stresses. T he study found needs of knowledge and experiences, replicating the successful adaptive practices and intervening to control malpractices to strengthen the adaptive capacity and ensure resil ient peri-urban agriculture. This paper provides an overview of changing climatic context in Kathmandu temperature and rainfall data and perception of local people on key climatic variables. Perceived changes in climate, its urban agriculture and adaptation strategies practiced by ticipatory tools and household urban villages in Kathmandu valley. Temperature in Kathmandu showed an increasing trend while rainfall was erratic with no distinct pattern. The impacts of these changes on een primarily negative with increase in crop pests and diseases and decline in the crop production. The adaptive strategies evolved include shifts in cropping dates, switch towards drought tolerant crop varieties and application of technological inputs to adapt against the he study found needs of communicating the knowledge and experiences, replicating the successful adaptive practices and intervening to control malpractices to strengthen the adaptive urban agriculture.