Awareness-Driven Determinants of Methane Mitigation Practices in Rice–Livestock Farming Systems of Central India: Implications for Sub-National Climate Governance
Keywords:
Methane mitigation, Farmer awareness, Agricultural emissions, Climate-smart agriculture, Sub-national governance, Madhya PradeshAbstract
Background: Agricultural methane emissions represent a critical yet understudied component of India's greenhouse gas inventory, with limited empirical evidence linking farmer awareness to actual mitigation behaviors at district scales. This study examines the role of farmer awareness and attitudes as determinants of methane emission practices across rice cultivation, livestock rearing, and agricultural waste management in Narmadapuram district, Madhya Pradesh. Methods: A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was employed with 600 farmers across three development blocks (Pipariya, Bankhedi, Sohagpur). Validated scales (Cronbach's α: 0.76–0.83) quantified methane-related practices. Awareness and attitudes were measured using a 40-item Likert instrument. One-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression analyzed relationships between awareness levels and practice scores. Institutional perspectives were gathered from 43 officials and analyzed thematically.
Results: Overall, 51%, 56%, and 62% of farmers adopted high methane-emitting practices in rice cultivation, livestock rearing, and waste management, respectively. Farmer awareness was low in 63% of respondents, with only 8% demonstrating high awareness. ANOVA revealed significant differences in practice scores across awareness categories for all three domains (p<0.001). Regression analysis demonstrated that livestock practices were the strongest predictor of awareness (β=0.574), followed by waste management (β=0.289) and rice cultivation (β=0.125), with the model explaining 77% of variance (R²=0.77). Block-wise analysis identified Bankhedi as the highest emission block and Sohagpur as the lowest. Institutional assessment revealed weak coordination (60%), low technical capacity (59%), and irregular monitoring (63%).
Conclusion: Farmer awareness is a powerful determinant of methane mitigation practice adoption, with livestock management serving as the most influential pathway for enhancing climate literacy. The strong awareness–practice linkage underscores the need for integrated capacity-building interventions. Block-specific emission patterns and institutional fragmentation necessitate spatially targeted, coordinated governance responses aligned with India's Nationally Determined Contributions and State Action Plan on Climate Change.
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