Researchers say farmers in eastern Nagaland are already seeing visible impacts of climate change on their crops, according to an ongoing study funded by the North Eastern Council (NEC), Government of India. The research team, led by principal investigator Dr. Ashutosh Tripathi with co-principal investigator Prof. Ashutosh Tripathi from the Department of Environmental Science, Nagaland University, visited Noksen, Logsing and Moalenden in Tuensang district on February 21, 2026, the university said in a release dated Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
During conversations with local farming communities, villagers reported increasingly erratic rainfall patterns, delayed monsoons, rising temperatures and sudden heavy downpours. These changing weather patterns have, farmers said, disrupted long-standing cropping calendars and traditional farming practices across the area.
The team documented damage and stress in a range of crops. Paddy, sugarcane, oranges, chilli and various vegetables have been particularly affected, with many farmers reporting falling yields and a rise in pest outbreaks. Researchers also noted that shifts in rainfall timing are disrupting jhum (shifting cultivation) cycles and undermining soil fertility practices that communities have relied on for generations.
The NEC-supported project, titled “Evaluation of Climate Change Perception, Knowledge and Responses in Tribal Communities of Nagaland, N.E. India,” aims to record these grassroots experiences and to formulate adaptation measures tailored to the region’s tribal communities. The research team was assisted in the field by Nohochem Sangtam of Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung.
Investigators observed that farmers are already adopting coping measures such as changing sowing dates and diversifying crops. However, they warned that these local adjustments will not be enough without stronger institutional and technical support to build climate resilience across the region’s farming systems. The findings underline an urgent need for targeted adaptation strategies to protect livelihoods and food security in Nagaland’s tribal areas.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/north-east-news/nagaland/nagaland-farmers-report-visible-climate-change-impacts-on-crops.html
Category: Nagaland,Northeast News,Top News
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Publish Date: 2026-02-24 19:42:00
