How Smallholder Livestock Farmers in India’s Cyclone Capital Are Adapting to Climate Change 

In coastal West Bengal, India’s “cyclone capital,” a study of 360 smallholder livestock farmers reveals that their adaptation to climate change is a two-stage process shaped by distinct factors. Using a double hurdle model, researchers found that while the initial decision to adopt strategies like improved feeding, livestock insurance, or species diversification is positively driven by larger herd size, access to climate information, and community participation, it is hindered by reliance on high-interest non-institutional credit. However, the intensity of adoption—implementing multiple strategies deeply—depends on more structured support, being strongly fueled by access to formal institutional credit, practical training, and robust livestock extension services. These findings underscore that effective policy must address both hurdles, advocating for affordable credit, strengthened extension systems, community infrastructure like cyclone shelters and fodder banks, and tailored interventions to move farmers from initial adoption to comprehensive resilience.

How Smallholder Livestock Farmers in India’s Cyclone Capital Are Adapting to Climate Change 

For smallholder livestock farmers in coastal West Bengal, known as India’s “cyclone capital,” adapting to climate change is not a future concern but an immediate struggle for survival. A new study employing an advanced econometric method reveals how these farmers are navigating increasing climate disasters and uncovers the critical factors determining whether they can build resilience. 

The research identifies seven practical adaptation strategies while exposing a crucial divide: the initial decision to adapt is driven by different factors than the commitment to implement multiple changes deeply. This insight is vital for crafting policies that not only encourage farmers to take the first step but also support them in building comprehensive, long-term resilience. 

Understanding the “Double Hurdle” to Resilience 

At the heart of this study is the double hurdle econometric model, a sophisticated tool perfect for analyzing farmer behavior. This model recognizes that adaptation is a two-stage process: first, a farmer decides whether to adopt any strategy (clearing the first hurdle). Then, they decide how many or to what extent to adopt (clearing the second hurdle). 

This approach is more nuanced than simpler models because it acknowledges that the factors influencing a one-time decision can be entirely different from those affecting the depth of commitment. For instance, a farmer might decide to try one new practice based on community advice but may need access to formal credit and training to integrate three or four new methods into their operations fully. 

The study applied this model to survey data from 360 smallholder livestock rearers across the vulnerable coastal districts of West Bengal, a region disproportionately battered by cyclones and saltwater intrusion. 

Seven Lifelines: Key Adaptation Strategies Identified 

Confronted with rising seas and intensifying storms, farmers are innovating to protect their livelihoods. The research cataloged seven primary adaptation strategies, ranging from adjusting daily practices to making significant long-term investments: 

• Improved Feeding Practices: Enhancing feed quality to maintain animal health under stress. 

• Species Diversification: Shifting from large ruminants (like cattle) to smaller, hardier small ruminants (like goats and sheep). 

• Livestock Insurance: Purchasing insurance to mitigate financial loss from animal death. 

• Well-Ventilated Housing: Modifying shelters to reduce heat stress and improve animal welfare. 

• Disaster Relocation Plans: Identifying and using safe places to move animals during cyclones. 

• Fodder Preservation: Storing feed to secure supply during post-disaster shortages. 

• Enhanced Healthcare: Increasing preventive and curative care for livestock. 

What Drives the Decision to Adapt? 

The first hurdle—the initial “yes” to change—is primarily influenced by a mix of resources, information, and social capital. The study found three key positive drivers: 

• Herd Size: Farmers with larger herds were more likely to adopt adaptation strategies. A larger herd represents greater capital at risk, making investment in protection more economically rational. 

• Access to Climatic Information: Knowledge is power. Farmers who received weather forecasts and climate warnings were better equipped to understand the risks and the need for adaptive action. 

• Community Participation: Engagement in farmer groups or cooperatives provided a critical platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and resources, lowering the perceived risk of trying something new. 

Surprisingly, the availability of non-institutional credit (such as loans from moneylenders) negatively influenced the adoption decision. This suggests that high-interest, informal debt may trap farmers in a cycle of short-term survival, stripping them of the financial flexibility needed for even initial adaptive investments. This finding is echoed in broader agricultural studies, where liquidity constraints are a fundamental barrier to adopting new technologies or practices. 

What Drives Deep, Committed Adoption? 

Clearing the second hurdle—adopting more strategies intensively—requires a different set of supports. Here, institutional strength and human capital come to the fore: 

• Access to Institutional Credit: Unlike informal loans, formal credit from banks or cooperatives had a strong positive effect on adoption intensity. This suggests that affordable, structured financing is essential for farmers to scale up multiple adaptations. 

• Training Received: Practical, hands-on training builds the confidence and skills necessary to manage a suite of new practices effectively. 

• Livestock Extension Services: Ongoing support from agricultural advisors helps troubleshoot problems and sustains long-term adoption. 

• Community Participation & Herd Size: These factors remained important, continuing to positively influence the scale of adoption. 

The Bigger Picture: Systemic Vulnerabilities and Barriers 

The study’s findings align with a broader understanding of vulnerability in coastal India. Research on agricultural vulnerability to cyclones in Purba Medinipur district (within coastal West Bengal) shows that physical exposure is only part of the story. Key socio-agricultural factors like low literacy rates and dependency on single-cropping systems profoundly increase a community’s risk. This underscores why adaptation strategies must address both environmental threats and human-centric barriers. 

Furthermore, the struggle to access livestock insurance—one of the key adaptation strategies—highlights acute gender and equity gaps. As reported from Karnataka, smallholder women farmers like Nirmala Lachhman Tubache find livestock insurance premiums financially out of reach, despite their deep reliance on animals for income and emergency savings. Government schemes often remain gender-agnostic, failing to account for women’s central role in livestock management and their distinct economic constraints. 

Table: Key Determinants of Climate Adaptation in Smallholder Livestock Systems 

Forging a Path Forward: Policy for Proactive Resilience 

The research translates its findings into clear, actionable policy recommendations, moving beyond generic support to targeted interventions: 

• Prioritize Institutional Finance: Policies must facilitate easier access to affordable, formal credit for smallholders. This is the bedrock for enabling significant on-farm investments in ventilation, insurance, and healthcare. 

• Build Robust Support Institutions: Strengthening extension services and promoting producer cooperatives can create a sustainable ecosystem for knowledge exchange and resource pooling. 

• Invest in Physical & Social Infrastructure: Establishing community cyclone shelters for livestock and fodder banks can provide direct, life-saving buffers against disasters. Success stories from integrated farming systems (IFS) in South India show that systems combining crops, horticulture, and animal husbandry significantly boost income and dietary diversity, providing a model for diversified, resilient livelihoods. 

• Address Adoption Heterogeneity: A one-size-fits-all approach will fail. Policy must be tailored, using awareness campaigns and targeted incentives to reach farmers currently on the sidelines, particularly women and marginalized groups. 

• Create an Enabling Market Environment: Ensuring an organized market for livestock produce and reliable access to veterinary services and quality feed makes adaptive farming more profitable and sustainable. 

The journey of adaptation for West Bengal’s smallholder farmers is a continuous process of navigating two hurdles: first, the choice to act, and second, the capacity to commit fully. By understanding this dual challenge, policymakers can craft interventions that do more than just introduce new techniques—they can build the foundational financial, social, and human capital that turns adaptation from a scattered choice into a woven fabric of resilience for India’s most climate-vulnerable communities.