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Water Resource Utilization and Livelihood Adaptations under the Background of Climate Change: A Case Study of Rural Households in the Koshi River Basin

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  • Jiangjun Wan

    (Department of Urban and Rural Planning, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 610041, China)

  • Xueqian Song

    (School of Management, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, China)

  • Yi Su

    (Rural Development Research Institute, Sichuan Academy of Social Science, Chengdu 610041, China)

  • Li Peng

    (Institute of Mountain Hazard and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China)

  • Shanta Paudel Khatiwada

    (Institute of Mountain Hazard and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China)

  • Yawen Zhou

    (Department of Urban and Rural Planning, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 610041, China)

  • Wei Deng

    (Institute of Mountain Hazard and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China)

Abstract

In the Koshi River Basin, the effects of climate change have become clear. Agricultural countries, such as Nepal, depend on farmers’ adaptations to climate change for local sustainable development. Limited livelihood options, unequal access to resources and information, and climate change-related floods and droughts have reduced farmer welfare. Few studies have investigated the effects of altitude in rural areas or examined livelihood adaptation strategies in Nepal. Using a survey of farmers in rural areas at high, middle, and low altitudes in Nepal, this article explores the impacts of climate change-related floods and droughts, as well as the water resource utilization, disaster resilience, and livelihood improvement ability of farmers and the influencing factors. This article adopted participatory rural appraisal to obtain survey data from farmers at three altitudes. Through one-way ANOVA and F-tests, farmers’ perceptions of floods and droughts were analyzed, and through field investigations, their production and water consumption patterns were established. Logistic regressions show that college education, farming income, and domestic water consumption have the strongest impacts on households’ disaster resilience, while non-farm income, male laborer rates, and college education have the strongest impacts on households’ abilities to improve livelihoods. Based on our results, we offer countermeasures and suggestions on education, gender equality, and rural infrastructure construction.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiangjun Wan & Xueqian Song & Yi Su & Li Peng & Shanta Paudel Khatiwada & Yawen Zhou & Wei Deng, 2019. "Water Resource Utilization and Livelihood Adaptations under the Background of Climate Change: A Case Study of Rural Households in the Koshi River Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:18:p:5064-:d:267758
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Thornton, P.K. & van de Steeg, J. & Notenbaert, A. & Herrero, M., 2009. "The impacts of climate change on livestock and livestock systems in developing countries: A review of what we know and what we need to know," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 101(3), pages 113-127, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jiangjun Wan & Yi Su & Huanglin Zan & Yutong Zhao & Lingqing Zhang & Shaoyao Zhang & Xiangyu Dong & Wei Deng, 2020. "Land Functions, Rural Space Governance, and Farmers’ Environmental Perceptions: A Case Study from the Huanjiang Karst Mountain Area, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Ran Zhu & Yiping Fang, 2022. "Application of a Water Supply-Demand Balance Model to Set Priorities for Improvements in Water Supply Systems: A Case Study from the Koshi River Basin, Nepal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-16, January.

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