International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research
Abbreviation: IJIAAR | ISSN (Online): 2602-4772 | DOI: 10.29329/ijiaar

Original article    |    Open Access
International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research 2024, Vol. 8(2) 159-173

Evaluating the Ethno-Climatological Knowledge and Its Applications for Mitigation of Climate Change Impact on the Uva High-Grown Organic Tea Ecosystem in Sri Lanka

M.k.s.l.d. Amarathunga, Pamodaya Kumarasingha, Randunu Kusal Dilhara Herath, A.m.chamali Amarakoon & Chamini Welhena

pp. 159 - 173   |  DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/ijiaar.2024.1049.9

Published online: June 30, 2024  |   Number of Views: 23  |  Number of Download: 134


Abstract

The organic tea cultivation sector is confronted with significant challenges due to the adverse effects of climate change, necessitating the urgent implementation of effective adaptation strategies. Ethno-climatology is an interdisciplinary field focusing on understanding how diverse cultures and communities perceive, adapt to, and interact with their environment's climate and weather patterns. This study aims to evaluate the extent of ethno-climatology knowledge among organic tea farmers in the Uva High Grown region and examine their implementation of adaptation measures to address climate change challenges. Utilizing a cross-sectional and exploratory research design, this study employed a diverse data collection method, including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, expert consultations, field observations, and questionnaire surveys, to ensure a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to data gathering. These methodological approaches facilitated the collection of valuable insights into farmers’ awareness levels and their adoption of mitigation practices. Subsequently, the collected data were analyzed to discern the farmers' knowledge and implementation of adaptation measures in response to climate change challenges. The findings revealed a substantial majority of farmers displaying a notable level of awareness regarding ethno-climatology, with scores exceeding 75%. Additionally, approximately 37 farmers demonstrated a high level of awareness, scoring above 85%. These findings indicate a promising trend of increasing awareness among farmers. Correlation analysis further revealed that factors such as age, experience, and practical knowledge, experience, observations, personal beliefs, and cultural practices played pivotal roles in shaping farmers' awareness and comprehension of ethno-climatology. Conversely, variables such as education level and the number of information sources exhibited weak or non-significant relationships with awareness levels in the specific field of ethno-climatology. Multiple regression analysis was employed to identify independent variables significantly influencing farmers' awareness of ethno-climatology, explaining a substantial 96.2% of the observed variance in the dependent variable. As revealed by this research, the perception of the organic farming community offers valuable insights into the current status of ethno-climatology knowledge and the adoption of adaptation measures within the organic tea ecosystem. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the importance of implementing effective adaptation strategies in the organic tea cultivation sector in the Uva High Grown region, given the challenges posed by climate change. The findings contribute valuable insights into the current state of ethno-climatology knowledge among organic tea farmers and inform the implementation of adaptation measures.

Keywords: Climate resilience, Ethno-climatology, Organic tea cultivation, Awareness level, Mitigation measures


How to Cite this Article

APA 6th edition
Amarathunga, M., Kumarasingha, P., Herath, R.K.D., Amarakoon, A. & Welhena, C. (2024). Evaluating the Ethno-Climatological Knowledge and Its Applications for Mitigation of Climate Change Impact on the Uva High-Grown Organic Tea Ecosystem in Sri Lanka . International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research, 8(2), 159-173. doi: 10.29329/ijiaar.2024.1049.9

Harvard
Amarathunga, M., Kumarasingha, P., Herath, R., Amarakoon, A. and Welhena, C. (2024). Evaluating the Ethno-Climatological Knowledge and Its Applications for Mitigation of Climate Change Impact on the Uva High-Grown Organic Tea Ecosystem in Sri Lanka . International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research, 8(2), pp. 159-173.

Chicago 16th edition
Amarathunga, M.k.s.l.d., Pamodaya Kumarasingha, Randunu Kusal Dilhara Herath, A.m.chamali Amarakoon and Chamini Welhena (2024). "Evaluating the Ethno-Climatological Knowledge and Its Applications for Mitigation of Climate Change Impact on the Uva High-Grown Organic Tea Ecosystem in Sri Lanka ". International Journal of Innovative Approaches in Agricultural Research 8 (2):159-173. doi:10.29329/ijiaar.2024.1049.9.

References
  1. Amarathunga, M. K. S. L. D. (2019). Public Private Partnership Extension Model for Tea Smallholding sector. Text book. Publisher Scholars press, International Book Marketing service Ltd, 17, 1-10. [Google Scholar]
  2. Bigirimana, C., Omujal, F., Isubikalu, P., Bizuru, E., Obaa, B., Malinga, M.,  & Okullo, J. B. (2011). Community Perception on Weather Variability in the Lake Victoria Basin, Rwanda and Uganda. International Journal of Humanities, Art and Social Studies (IJHAS), 1(2). [Google Scholar]
  3. Jayasinghe, S. L., Kumar, L., & Hasan, M. K. (2020). Relationship between environmental covariates and Ceylon tea cultivation in Sri Lanka. Agronomy, 10(4), 476. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10040476 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  4. Kirkland, E., (2012). Indigenous knowledge and climate change adaptation in the Peruvian Andes. INTL1450: Political Economy of the Environment in Latin America. [Google Scholar]
  5. Marambe, B., Punyawardena, R., Silva, P., Premalal, S., Rathnabharathie, V., Kekulandala, B. & Howden, M. (2015). Climate, climate risk, and food security in Sri Lanka: the need for strengthening adaptation strategies. Handbook of climate change adaptation, 1759- 1789. [Google Scholar]
  6. Mekonnen, Z., Kidemu, M., Abebe, H., Semere, M., Gebreyesus, M., Worku, A., Tesfaye, M. and Chernet, A. (2021). Traditional knowledge and institutions for sustainable climate change adaptation in Ethiopia. Current Research in Environmental Sustainability, 3, 100080. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crsust.2021.100080. [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  7. Raghuvanshi, R., & Ansari, M. A. (2017). A study of farmers’ awareness about climate change and adaptation practices in India. Young (Less than 45), pp. 45, 40–90. [Google Scholar]
  8. Seyis, F., Yurteri, E., Ozcan, A., & Savsatli, Y. (2018). Organic Tea Production and Tea Breeding in Turkey: Challenges and Possibilities. Article Ekin Journal of Crop Breeding and Genetics, 4(1), 60–69. [Google Scholar]
  9. Tolo, C. U., Majule, E. A., & Lejju, J. B. (2014). Local and indigenous knowledge systems in subsistence agriculture, climate risk management, and mitigation of community. vulnerability in changing climate, Lake Victoria basin: a case study of Rakai and Isingiro districts, Uganda. Nile River Basin: Ecohydrological Challenges, Climate Change and Hydropolitics, 451-473. [Google Scholar]
  10. Godage, R. S. W., & Gajanayake, B. (2022). Coconut Growers' Knowledge and Perceptions on Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies in Puttalam District of Sri Lanka. CORD, 38, 13-21. [Google Scholar]
  11. Wijeratne, M. A., Amarathunga, M. K. S. L. D.,  Anandacoomaraswamy, A., Ratnasiri, J., Basnayake, B. R. S. B., & Kalra, N. (2007). Assessment of the impact of climate change on the productivity of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plantations in Sri Lanka. [Google Scholar]