Farmers Adaptation Strategies and Impacts of Climate Change in the Rabi Season: A Village-Level Study in Aurad Shahajani, Maharashtra

Maharashtra, the most populous state in India (Census of India, 2011), faces significant challenges due to climate change. The state’s dependence on water-intensive industries, agriculture, and fossil fuel-derived energy supplies makes it particularly susceptible (Aliseba Wagah et al., 2021 ). Agriculture, the mainstay of rural livelihoods, is highly vulnerable to climatic variations ( Bhandari et al., 2021 ). This study investigates farmers’ perceptions of climatic changes and their impacts on agricultural practices in Aurad Shahajani and the surrounding regions within the Latur district of Maharashtra. The year 2024 was chosen for the study. These particular villages were selected to study due to the depletion of existing resources, or we can call them once. They were abundant in Maharashtra’s water and green belt area, and a river flowed through these villages. Why is there a scarcity of water? It was once in abundance and is now facing water scarcity, so the villages were chosen mainly to address these challenges and how we can overcome them and bring them back to their original state. To achieve a comprehensive understanding, three villages – Aurad Shahajani, Tagarkheda, and Kasar Shirshi – were selected within Latur district. The findings from this study will contribute valuable insights for policymakers and researchers working towards developing climate-resilient agricultural practices and ensuring food security in the region ( Kumar et al., 2020 ).