Technology Demonstratons Enhancing resilience and adaptve capacity of farmers to climate variability

Abstract

In the context of climate variability, farmers need to adapt quickly to increasing frequency of drought, food and other extreme events to stabilize crop yields and farm income. Over the years, the National Agricultural Research System has developed an array of practices and technologies to foster stability in agriculture production against the onslaught of seasonal variations. Technology Demonstration Component (TDC) of NICRA offers great opportunity to work with farmers and apply such technologies under feld conditions to address current climate variability. This will enhance the pace of adoption of these resilient technologies. On-farm participatory demonstrations for climate resilience are being implemented in village clusters through KVKs in 121 climatically vulnerable districts across the country and by 7 core research institutes of ICAR. The emphasis has been on capturing and improving the understanding on performance of technologies in different agro-ecologies and farming systems. This also facilitates identifcation of what constitutes climate resilience in different bio-physical and socio-economic contexts. In 2014-15, the south west monsoon rainfall was below normal. Delay in onset and defcit rainfall conditions affected sowings and performance of standing crops in several rainfed districts in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. NICRA KVKs prepared and implemented village level contingency crop plans and measures. This publication documents some of the successful climate resilient interventions which enhanced the coping ability of famers in different districts. Extreme events were also experienced during the year and some promising resilient practices were identifed in the affected districts. Work on evolving a framework for climate resilient villages (CRVs) and quantifying resilience was initiated during the year. Capacity development program for scientists from all participating KVKs was undertaken. About 36 KVKs were monitored by Zonal Monitoring Committees to suggest improvements in technology demonstrations. About 722 courses in different thematic areas of climate resilience were taken up for awareness and capacity building of participating farmers. Video documentation to capture the climate resilient interventions in action was initiated for widespread dissemination of project achievements. Performing KVKs in each Zone and farmers in all the NICRA villages were recognized and awarded. Village level carbon balance studies were completed for Gujarat and Rajasthan. An orientation workshop was organized for 21 new KVKs joining the Technology Demonstration Component in the XII Plan. The aim of Technology Demonstration Component of NICRA is to mainstream successful resilient practices and technologies and a NICRA-NMSA interface meeting was organized for this purpose. We take this opportunity to gratefully acknowledge the constant guidance and support from Dr. S. Ayyapan, Secretary, DARE & DG, ICAR and members of the HLMC, and appreciate the valuable contribution of network partners including Farmers, VCRMC members, Scientists and Department offcials.