Authors : Pravin Bhalerao Thakare; Abhijeet Ramdas More; Narhar Jagannath Biraris

Volume/Issue : Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 12 - December

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/4z7ejac7

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/33rrjkw5

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/25dec1386

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : This paper assesses observed and projected climate-change-related impacts on agriculture in Dhule district (north Maharashtra), synthesizes local evidence on rainfall variability, groundwater trends, crop vulnerability, and livelihood implications, and proposes prioritized adaptation pathways for farmers, local government and NGOs. Using a mixed-methods literature synthesis (local studies, district reports, IMD gridded products, groundwater surveys, and recent news on crop damages), we find that increasing rainfall variability, recurring drought episodes, declining groundwater in parts of the district, and more frequent extreme weather events are already destabilizing crop yields and smallholder incomes. Priority adaptation actions include integrated watershed recharge, diversification to drought-tolerant crops and millets, expansion of micro-irrigation, improved climate services and reforms to insurance/credit delivery. Key evidence sources include district agricultural profiles, IMD gridded rainfall datasets and local studies of Dhule’s agricultural-climate linkages.

Keywords : Dhule in Maharashtra, Climate Change, Agriculture, Rainfall Variability, Groundwater, Adaptation, Cotton, Millets.

References :

1. District Dhule — District Profile. District website. (Govt. of Maharashtra).
2. Kushavart Patil, Monika Gupta & Sunil Saindane (2024). Assessing the impact of climate Change on agriculture and livelihood in Dhule district, Maharashtra, and identifying  adaptation opportunities. Agronomy Journals (special issue).
3. CGWB. Aquifer Maps and Ground Water Management Plan — Dhule. Central Ground Water Board (district report).
4. IMD (Pune). Gridded rainfall datasets (1901–2024) and related data products. India Meteorological Department.
5. Survase RN (2020). Trend Analysis of Rainfall and Crop Planning in Dhule and Nandurbar Districts. KrishiKosh repository.
6. Research on rainfall variability in Maharashtra and Khandesh regions (multiple authors, 2015–2021).
7. NABARD. Dhule PLP 2020–21 (district agriculture and priority project list).
8. Times of India (2025). “Rain, wind damage crops on over 16,000 ha in north Maharashtra districts” — regional news on recent crop damages.
9. Cynthia E. Rosenzweig – American agronomist and climatologist known for pioneering research on climate change impacts on agriculture.
10. Christopher B. Field – Prominent climate scientist whose work includes climate effects on agriculture.
11. Gurdeep Singh Malhi – Co-author of a peer-reviewed review on climate change impacts on agriculture and mitigation strategies.
12. Manpreet Kaur – Co-author on Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture and Its Mitigation Strategies.
13. Prashant Kaushik – Co-author of agricultural climate change review (mitigation focus).  
14. Bibi Farhana & Azizur Rahman – Authors of a peer-reviewed overview on climate impacts and mitigation strategies in agriculture.