Tuensang: Farmers in eastern Nagaland are reporting visible and increasingly disruptive impacts of climate change on their crops, according to findings from an ongoing research project funded by the North Eastern Council (NEC), Government of India.
The observations were made during a field visit on February 21, 2026, to Longsing village in Noksen block under Tuensang district, and the Moalenden area under Mokokchung district, Nagaland.
The visit was led by Principal Investigator Dr. Ashutosh Tripathi and Co-Principal Investigator Prof. Ashutosh Tripathi from the Department of Environmental Science, Nagaland University, with support from Mr. Nohochem Sangtam, Head of the Environmental Studies Department at Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung.
During interactions with farming communities, villagers described a pattern of erratic rainfall, delayed monsoons, rising temperatures and sudden heavy showers that have disrupted long-established cropping cycles.
Farmers said these shifts have directly affected the cultivation of paddy, sugarcane, orange, chilli and other vegetables, leading to declining yields and rising pest incidence.
Several farmers also pointed to changes in the timing and distribution of rainfall that have adversely impacted jhum cultivation practices, a traditional shifting cultivation system widely practised in the region.
According to community members, altered rainfall patterns are disturbing soil fertility cycles and affecting crop productivity across seasons.
The NEC-supported project, titled “Evaluation of Climate Change Perception, Knowledge and Responses in Tribal Communities of Nagaland, N.E. India,” aims to document grassroots experiences of climate variability and recommend region-specific adaptation strategies.
Researchers noted that while farmers are attempting to cope by adjusting sowing dates and diversifying crops, these measures remain limited without sustained institutional and technical backing.
The team emphasised the need for stronger climate-resilient agricultural support systems, including improved advisory services, pest management strategies and soil conservation measures tailored to the hill ecosystems of Nagaland.
The study underscores growing evidence that climate variability is no longer abstract for rural communities in the Northeast, but a lived reality shaping livelihoods, food security and traditional farming systems.
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