Climate change is no longer a distant threat for the tribal communities of Andhra Pradesh—it is a lived reality. The high-altitude tribal areas and forests of Alluri Sitarama Raju, Parvathipuram Manyam districts, once abundant with crops, streams, and dense greenery, are showing visible signs of distress.
Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and recurring forest fires are disrupting the delicate balance between nature and people that has sustained tribal life for millennia. The Andhra Pradesh State Action Plan on Climate Change (AP-SAPCC, 2020) and other study reports alert us to these climatic shifts which are hitting the poorest and most vulnerable the hardest—especially because they depend on rain-fed farming, forest produce, and traditional occupations.
Agriculture in peril
For tribal farmers, agriculture has always been closely tied to the rhythm of the monsoon. But today, that rhythm has vanished and been replaced with erratic and unpredictable weather patterns. Increasing heat has been reducing soil moisture, while unseasonal rains have been damaging standing crops. Those like paddy and pulses have been showing declining yields under heat stress, while traditional millets—long neglected—have proven more resilient.
Studies by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (2012) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (2019) show that millets can thrive even in low-rainfall years, making them vital for food security in dry upland regions.
Water scarcity has also become acute. The AP-SAPCC (2020) predicts a steady decline in rainfall during key crop-growing months (Rabi). Sudden heavy downpours now cause soil erosion and flooding. Strengthening watershed management and restoring traditional tanks are critical to rebuilding water security in tribal villages.
For instance, a survey undertaken by Laya, a tribal resource centre, on the existing water harvesting structures including check dams, streams, and tanks meant for irrigation purposes in ASR and Manyam districts —revealed that they were about 81 in number and collectively catered to an extent of only 177 as opposed to 6,918 acres. Most of the check dams that have been constructed have remained non-functional. If repaired, they are likely to provide irrigation facilities to a larger extent from the existing 2.5 per cent!
Therefore, the revival of traditional water-harvesting structures such as check dams and percolation ponds must be actively taken up under schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
Livestock and fisheries, which serve as important resources for rural nutrition and income, are also under stress as an effect of Climate Change. Hotter temperatures reduce milk yield and fertility in cattle, while irregular rainfall affects fish breeding in inland waters, as reported by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (2019).
Additionally, runoff from fields containing residual chemical fertilisers and pesticides is further exacerbating the problem, underscoring the urgent need for adapting organic farming practices.