Perception towards Climate Variability among Livestock Owners of Drought Prone Areas of Rajasthan Dr. Subhash Chand1*, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Rewani2 and Dr. Ashok Baindha3 1Assistant Professor, Pashu Vigyan Kendra, Kumher (RAJUVAS, Bikaner)-321201 2&3Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary and A.H. Extension Education, Post Graduate Institute of Veterinary Education and Research, Jaipur-302031 *Email id: dryadavsubhash@gmail.com Mob: +91-8290010544 ABSTRACT Climate variability, a phenomenon of global concern, adversely impacts crops and livestock systems posing serious risks to global food security. Understanding the changing climate scenario by the livestock owners is equally important for planning and implementation of mitigation strategies for sustainable livelihood of rural people. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out purposively in severe drought prone districts of Rajasthan i.e., Barmer, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jalore and Sirohi where the reoccurrence of drought was once in every three years. 300 livestock owners who possessed at least one milch animal (cattle and/or goat) at the time of investigation were selected from 20 villages belonging to 10 tehsils of above five districts. The data were collected through pre-tested and structured schedule, a psychometric scale, by personal interview method. The findings of study revealed that majority (69.33%) of the livestock owners had medium level of perception towards climate variability. It was found that change in timing of precipitation, variation in rainfall pattern, changes in environmental temperature, changes in level of ground water and increase in number of droughts were most perceived climate factors towards climate variability by livestock owners. There is need to focus on significant change in critical climate factors and same to be communicated to livestock owners on real time basis through mass awareness programmes to downplay the impact of changing climate at community level.