By Vinitha Bachina, ANTICIPATE Research Officer, Institute of Development Studies (IDS), UK

Increasing incidence of climate extremes is becoming a key concern for local communities especially as they are experiencing a shift from traditional seasonal patterns. Extreme variability has pushed communities to the limit of coping and has placed an even greater burden of anticipation on women and landless people. Although women carry the burden of care during shocks and stressors, the gendered impacts of such climate events are largely invisible and undocumented. During our fieldwork in North Gujarat (2022-2024), several women spoke of their intensive daily routines which included milking their animals, walking to and from their fields at least five kilometres away, bringing back fodder and feeding livestock multiple times a day.

Gendered Impacts

A woman farmer in North Gujarat narrated how in the event of extreme rainfall: “It is very difficult to conserve dry firewood and get water to cook for the family, as at that time we do not have access to Panchayat or borewell water. Since the cattle are moved to shelters this only adds to the workload because we are responsible for feeding the animals”. Despite the unequal burden of work, many women do not have a legal claim to the land they labour on, affecting their access to relief and crop insurance.

Shifting Practices and Unequal Access to Water Resources

Access to irrigation through dams and canals act as a buffer for communities dealing with delayed or erratic rainfall and heatwaves. In the ANTICIPATE research site, farmers with larger landholdings have installed private pipelines from the main and distributary canals at their own expense. This has altered perceptions around water scarcity and security and has caused prevailing practices to shift to cash crop cultivation, moving away from previously rain-dependent farming.

However, these water arrangements have intensified vulnerabilities for smaller landholders and landless farmers. Socio-economic hierarchies are further widening the gap not only between beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of canal water, but they also decreasing water security for landless farmers as they are forced to depend on larger landholders and borewell owners. Anticipatory decision-making in such cases is challenged as intersectional vulnerabilities affect the extent to which communities are able to prepare.

Emerging Lessons for Preparedness

Anticipatory measures need to go beyond the household and require institutional support. For example, in Gujarat, there have been situations of unplanned dam opening schedules that have caused flooding in some areas. Large volumes of water were released when the dam reached its peak. Had the water been released with adequate warning, loss to crops, animals, and homes could have been avoided. Anticipatory decision-making at the household level is complex as not only does it intensify unpaid care responsibilities for women, but it is also affected by socio-economic vulnerabilities. Access to irrigation sources may act as a buffer during periods of extreme dryness and allows some farmers to engage in cash-cropping. However, the extent of household anticipation is limited and requires institutional support in the form of relevant and actionable forecasting information and planned dam operations. A socially inclusive view of preparedness that centres the experiences and perspectives of local communities is essential for bottom-up preparedness.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this piece are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of AIDMI.