Adapting to Floods: Evidence from Odisha

Floods present a recurring and significant challenge in South Asia. Odisha in east India is particularly vulnerable as nearly one-fifth of the state’s geography is flood-prone. Economic damages from flooding are associated with multiple climate risks including threats to living standards, human health, food security, water security, and community stability. These impacts disproportionately affect marginalized populations, with women facing greater risks due to limited access to non-agricultural employment opportunities and socially disadvantaged groups experiencing heightened vulnerability. As climate change intensifies, these challenges are only expected to worsen, necessitating evidence-based adaptation strategies to protect millions of lives and livelihoods.

DPIC is conducting extensive research on flood adaptation strategies in Odisha in collaboration with the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department and the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA). This initiative, led by Professors Fiona Burlig of the University of Chicago and Anant Sudarshan of the University of Warwick, aims to document household-level adaptation approaches, quantify relationships between social safety net schemes and flood impacts, understand variations in flood damages, and test interventions that encourage pre-disaster adaptation. By gathering detailed evidence on how households respond to flood risks, DPIC seeks to inform government policies that can effectively mitigate flood impacts and improve climate resilience across vulnerable communities.

Our approach employs rigorous methodology combining satellite-derived flood hazard data with comprehensive household surveys. The research team surveyed 2,000 households across 400 villages in Kendrapara and Jajpur districts, strategically sampling from areas with varying flood risk levels. This design enables analysis of how adaptation strategies differ between high-risk and low-risk areas, providing insights into effective practices that could be scaled more broadly. The survey captured detailed data on household characteristics, past flood experiences, damage patterns, adaptation investments, farming practices, livelihood diversification strategies, and other coping mechanisms.

Initial findings reveal that floods primarily impact agriculture, with 97% of flooded farmers reporting crop damages. The research has identified critical vulnerabilities, including substantially greater agricultural damages among small and marginal farmers. While adaptation measures like direct seeding of paddy are more prevalent in high-risk areas, the uptake of flood-tolerant seed varieties remains low despite their potential benefits. Economic responses include diversification of income sources, particularly through increased labor on nearby farms. These insights suggest opportunities for policy interventions focused on defraying adaptation costs during planting season and creating systems to better reallocate excess labor following flood events. DPIC is currently working with the Government of Odisha to translate these findings into actionable recommendations for improving flood resilience.