Water scarcity and drought are recurrent phenomena in Bihar. The present study was designed to identify and assess the adaptation strategy adopted by the livestock dependents to reduce the impact of drought on their livestock rearing and livelihood security. Adaptation strategies followed by the livestock dependents has recently become a subject of increasing importance in climate change research with an objective to reduce the vulnerability of climate sensitive people. Primary data collected by developing interview schedule with 240 households, which used to get various aspects of drought and drought adaptation strategies. The study accomplished with the help of Drought adaptation Index (DAI). The study found that 49 adaptation strategies were adopted by the livestock dependents which were further distributed into seven broad categories. Most significant adaptation strategies were feeding of extra crop residues, providing minerals supplementation and feed additives instead of green fodder, Storage of wheat straw/paddy straw and crop residues. The study also established that adoption of adaptation strategy was increased significantly with the increase in degree of drought proneness and herd size was the most significant contributor to the higher level of adoption of adaptation strategy.

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