Coping with Climate Change: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Irrigation Technology Outcomes in Gujarat, India
Publisher: Socius: Sociological Research for a Dynamic World
Author(s): Jamie M. Sommer, Trupti Jain, Biplabketan Paul, Karina Yager, Eliza White, Andrew Hargrove, and Peggy Ann Spitzer
Date: 2026
Topics: Climate Change, Gender, Land, Livelihoods
Countries: India
Previous research on climate change interventions highlights that adaptation and mitigation strategies must be tailored to local contexts to effectively benefit both people and the environment. However, there remains a gap in analyzing the effectiveness of locally specific climate-related technologies in enhancing food security, improving livelihoods, and addressing social dimensions such as women’s autonomy. The authors address that gap by drawing on two data sources, one quantitative and one qualitative, to evaluate the impact of an irrigation technology. Specifically, the authors assess its effectiveness in improving crop yields and addressing issues related to migration, women’s autonomy, and economic conditions. The quantitative data come from a 2024 survey of 199 farmers across the Harij, Sami, and Sankheswar blocks of Patan district in Gujarat, India. The qualitative data are based on in-depth interviews conducted in 2019 with 48 farmers from the villages of Nani Chandoori and Dudhkha (Sami block) and Aritha (Harij block).