Impact of Rainfall on Productivity of Small-Scale Vegetable Farmers: A Case of Low Country Dry Zone

Global climate change presents significant challenges across social, economic, and environmental realms, particularly affecting agriculture and rural livelihoods. Smallholder vegetable farming, crucial for local economies, faces vulnerability. A study investigates climate impacts, extreme events, crop failure effects, and coping strategies, revealing deep poverty traps for farmers. It has been identified that rainfall, frequency and intensity, was adversely affect the quality of vegetable produce and lead to lower crop production in 2023 compared to 2022. The quality of the produce is considered by the middlemen to decide the price, which can be determined mostly by observing the external appearance of the vegetables. Mean production in 2022 Yala season was (1105.500 kg) and in 2023 it was (544.700 kg). This difference is proved to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). Out of 20 crops, capsicum (87%), tomato (60%), snake gourd (71%), tomato (60%), and pumpkin (57%) was affected most. Temperature variation has mentioned as the most occurred climate hazards by small-scale farmers with the mean value of 2.190 while flood has the least occurrence with the mean value of 4.8. The results identified that crops like eggplant, brinjal, and moringa are tolerant to low rainfall. Crop failures were negatively effect on household income, food security, and especially on children’s education. Proper money for expenses was difficult to obtain by the farmers due to the poor production. Loans were taken, gold was mortgaged, and land was sold by them. These are the microfinance ways that were used by farmers. Adaptation measures, such as water management systems, drip irrigation, tube wells, sprinklers, and transitioning to new crops and plantations, were identified. Climate change poses significant social, economic, environmental, and health challenges at a global level. Agricultural production and rural livelihoods are particularly impacted by climate change, which alters agro-ecosystems and affects crop biodiversity. These changes in turn cause disruptions and reductions in food security.