Chapter 9
Adaptation Strategy of Households
and Its Determinants
This chapter examines different adaptation strategies chosen by the households in
order to reduce climate change vulnerability and to identify the factors responsible
to adaptation across different agro-climatic regions of West Bengal.
9.1 Identifying Adaptation Strategy
We present the possible adaptation strategies undertaken by the households across
five different agro-climatic regions of West Bengal and they are discussed in the
following way.
First, livestock rearing is one of the adaptation strategies prevailing in the five
regions. Livestock rearing includes buffalo, cow, goat, pig, hen and duck. Livestock
rearing supports additional income of the households during an adverse climate
situation. It can minimize the risk of climate change.
Second, the formation of self-help groups (SHGs) is one of the adaptation strate-
gies of the households. Self help groups (SHGs) are voluntary associations of down-
trodden people. It comprises with 10–15 women to form a group to solve their
common socio-economic problems through mutual help. It offers loan to the house-
holds to build up their assets, increase their wealth and enable for starting small
businesses and fight against risks and poverty. Through self help groups women are
empowered in terms of enhancing income and decision making in their families.
Third, migration is another adaptation strategy of the households. Migration
occurs due to various reasons. The hill region of Darjeeling district is famous for the
tourism sector. The economy of this district is mainly based on tourists. In the non-
tourist season the people of Darjeeling migrate to the nearest surrounding areas where
there is an opportunity for getting jobs. In the extreme landslide situation people also
migrate to other places. In the drought prone regions of Purulia district people migrate
to the nearest agriculturally developed districts like Hooghly, Burdwan and Howrah
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to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
J. P. Basu, Climate Change Vulnerability and Communities in Agro-climatic Regions
of West Bengal, India, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50468-7_9
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