From Flood Exposure to Adaptation Constraints: An RBQ-based Assessment of Flood-affected Farm Households in the North Bank Plains Zone of Assam, India

Recurrent flooding affects agricultural production in Assam’s North Bank Plain Zone, but the relative severity of farming constraints and barriers to climate-resilient adaptation requires closer examination. This study assessed 120 flood-affected farm households in Chamua and Barbali villages of Narayanpur block, Lakhimpur district, Assam. Primary data were collected during 2022–2023 using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. Respondents independently ranked six flood-induced farming constraints and six barriers to adopting climate-resilient practices. Rank-Based Quotient (RBQ) scores were calculated to establish their relative severity. Crop damage and yield loss were the highest-ranked farming constraints (RBQ = 89.31%), followed by small and fragmented landholdings (68.06%) and delayed sowing and disruption of the crop calendar (57.92%). Among adaptation barriers, lack of improved farm machinery ranked first (85.00%), followed by limited availability of stress-resistant seeds (81.25%) and limited access to credit facilities (58.06%). Lack of technical knowledge and skills received the lowest adoption-constraint score (35.56%). These rankings indicate that shortages of machinery, suitable seed and financial resources were perceived as more severe barriers than knowledge limitations among the surveyed households. The findings suggest that locally responsive adaptation support could prioritise access to appropriate equipment, resilient planting material, affordable credit and extension services.