Decision-making process of farmers towards adoption of climate resilient practices: Evidence from cotton growers in Southern Telangana Zone

Abstract

The study entitled Decision-Making Process of Farmers towards adoption of climate resilient practices: Evidence from Cotton Growers in Southern Telangana Zone analysed how farmers progress through different stages of decision making while adopting climate resilient practices (CRPs) in cotton. The rational model consisting of six stages namely problem recognition, generation of alternative solutions, evaluation of alternatives, selection of best alternatives, implementation and evaluation of decision effectiveness was used as the analytical framework. The study was conducted in Mahbubnagar district of Southern Telangana Zone with a purposive sample of 120 innovative cotton farmers from six villages. Results showed that all farmers identified production problems but only 46.67 per cent generated alternatives 31.67 per cent evaluated them and 25.00 per cent selected the best alternative. About 15.00 per cent directly implemented decisions without evaluation and 6.67 per cent reviewed their effectiveness. About 33.33 per cent implemented decisions after progressing sequentially. Finally, 28.33 per cent of farmers reached the stage of evaluating decision effectiveness. Farmers displayed rational behaviour influenced by peer learning and practical field experience. The process served as a continuous cycle of learning that strengthened farmers’ consistent use of climate resilient practices in cotton.