Climate adaptation in South Asian livestock production systems: emerging trends and contextual insights.

The South Asia region is facing impact of rapidly escalating climate change with extreme events. Changing climate poses significant challenges on livestock-based livelihoods in South Asia, affecting productive and reproductive performance as well as food security. Despite farmers adopting various adaptation strategies, gap exists in comprehensively identifying and exploring rationale behind these strategies in literature dealing with climate adaptation strategies. The objective of this study is to systematically review existing literature on climate change adaptation strategies that have been adopted by livestock rearers in South Asia region. It synthesized and analysed South Asian livestock rearers’ climate adaptation strategies using a PRISMA-based Systematic Literature Review. A total of 41 peer-reviewed research articles were selected from Scopus, Web of Science, Lens, and Google Scholar. Total 62 adaptation strategies were identified and categorized under eight thematic domains. Bibliometric analysis indicated a significant rise in publication patterns, particularly post-2010, with India leading in contributions. Keyword network analysis underscored the importance of ‘adaptation’ and ‘climate change’, illustrating its critical influence on research related to climate resilience, livestock management, and farmers’ perspectives. Research since 2018 highlighted the increasing complexity of adaptation strategies, incorporating elements such as climate-smart agriculture and risk management. Thermal stress management and fodder management strategies were most prevalent adaptation options. Strategies were both autonomous and planned with most being implemented spontaneously by farmers. This study identified climate adaptation strategies adopted by livestock rearers in South Asian countries. Secondly, it also explores the rationale behind use, and links it to further policy advocation.