Climate change is one of the most important challenges for agricultural production, particularly in rain-fed irrigations such as Gajapati district of Odisha, where in the people mostly depend on paddy cultivation. The study used purposive sampling impact of irregular rainfall, hot temperatures, cyclones and low moisture in soils and farmer well-being. Used purposive sampling, collected data from 52 paddy farmers through structured questionnaires and personal interviews. The study used descriptive statistcs, chi-square tests and multiple regression analysis to find climate impacts and adaptation  responses. The Results reveal that erratic rainfall and heat stress significantly reduce yields, while extreme weather it causes crop losses. While occupation had no clear impact on subsidy, gender was found to influence the adoption of new practices. The most important factor influencing farmer income, according to regression analysis, is the size of the landholding. Despite emerging adaptation strategies such as drought-tolerant varieties, mixed cropping and community water management, limited access to irrigation, credit and institutional support hinders resilience. The study concludes that strengthening irrigation infrastructure, promoting climate-smart agriculture and enhancing institutional interventions are essential to safeguard paddy farming and improve adaptive capacity in Gajapati district. The study finds a significant impact of climate change on paddy farming in Gajapati district, Odisha. The study shows erratic rainfall, rising temperature and extreme weather are directly affecting crop growth, yield and farmers’ livelihood. 

Highlights

• 86.5% of farmers reported paddy yield decline due to irregular rainfall, heat stress, and extreme weather.
• 40.38% farmers demand improved irrigation support to cope with climate change impacts
• Improved irrigation, climate-smart agriculture, and institutional support are essential for farmer resilience.
• 82.69% of farmers are aware of climate change impacts, but only 54% adopted adaptation strategies.