Socio-economic vulnerability assessment of shifting cultivators (Jhumias) amidst the changing climate in Mizoram, northeast India

This study utilizes household data to examine the Jhumias susceptibility to the changing climate by using the lens of socio-economic vulnerability framework. 150 households spread across 6 villages were surveyed to understand association between Jhumias and their physical and social surroundings. The data was comprehensively consolidated and scrutinized to assess the vulnerability. Principle Component Analysis (PCA) was used to select and group the indicators. Varimax rotation was executed on all selected indicators and factors with eigenvalue >1 was incorporated for weight assignment. Results revealed that Muallungthu was socio-economically the most vulnerable village while the least vulnerable village was Chhungte. Households which fall short to adopt any adaptation strategies to the impacts of climate change were most vulnerable. Exposure to natural hazards was the basic indicator of climate change in the region and the sole dependence on agriculture made the households highly sensitive to climate variability. With the aim to improve the economic status of Jhumias, Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) interventions were advocated for climate resilient approach in Jhum. The study calls for policy makers and development planners to invest in education and rural income diversification. Effort should be made to assess the effect of previous disasters and hazard events so as to come up with obligatory preventive measures and consequently emphasize in adopting new measures for households to make them less vulnerable henceforth.

Automated summary

This study examines the vulnerability of Jhumias to climate change using household data and the socio-economic vulnerability framework. The results show that households that do not adopt adaptation strategies are most vulnerable, and the dependence on agriculture makes them highly sensitive to climate variability. Climate-smart agriculture interventions are advocated to improve the economic status of Jhumias.