Abstract:
Climate change poses a significant threat to global agriculture, particularly impacting
small- and medium-scale farmers who rely heavily on farming for their livelihoods
and are among the most vulnerable. Building resilience to climate change is critical
for mitigating vulnerabilities. While debates continue about the extent to which
livelihood capital influences resilience, understanding its role is essential. This study
examined how different forms of livelihood capital contribute to the resilience of
farming households in the climatically vulnerable Horowpothana Divisional
Secretariat division of the Anuradhapura district. Data was collected from 200
farming households through a multistage, purposive, proportionate random sampling
technique using a field survey, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions.
The analysis employed a household livelihood resilience approach, considering five
key capitals: human, social, natural, physical, and financial. Results revealed that
social capital is the most prominent capital, followed by financial, physical, human,
and natural capital. However, the overall average livelihood resilience score is low,
with the majority of households demonstrating low resilience. Multiple regression
analysis indicated that factors such as income diversification through non-farm
sources, access to formal credit, participation in agricultural projects, ownership of
agro-wells, and access to usable forests significantly (p<0.05) enhance household
resilience. This highlights the importance of diverse income sources and resource
access in enhancing household climate resilience. Conversely, a higher household
dependency ratio negatively impacts (p<0.05) resilience. The study concludes that
while the contributions of livelihood capitals vary, the overall low resilience
underscores the vulnerability of farming households in the region. Therefore, it
recommends an integrated approach to strengthen resilience by promoting income
diversification, improving access to financial services, enhancing agricultural
infrastructure, and investing in human capital development. These measures can
contribute to building more resilient farming communities capable of adapting to the
challenges posed by climate change.
