Coping with Climate Variability Technology Demonstration on Farmers' Fields in Vulnerable Districts

Abstract

Agriculture in India is practiced for over 5000 years and during this long history, the agrarian communities have faced various climate related challenges. During the past five decades, challenges in agriculture are being dealt through application of science and technology. Over the years, a range of technologies suiting to different situations have been developed by the National Agricultural Research Education System (NARES). Though these technologies cannot be termed as climate resilient they were applied in situations challenged by climate variability in different agro climatic environments. However, in the recent past, agriculture has been frequently affected by climatic variability threatening, food production. A nation-wide project, National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), has been launched in 2011 to address this challenge by application of science and technology. NICRA deals with demonstration of an integrated package of proven technologies for adaptation of the crop and livestock production systems to climate variability. This is implemented in 100 most vulnerable districts of the country by demonstrating location specific technologies through Krishi Vigyan Kendras in a participatory mode. The technology demonstration component addresses climatic vulnerabilities such as droughts, floods, salinity, frost, cyclone, heat wave, cold wave and the like. The interventions are categorized into four modules one each on natural resource management, crop production, livestock & fisheries and institutional innovations. The project has made some significant impact in a span of two years. Large number of water harvesting structures have been dug across the drought-prone areas, besides promoting on-farm water conservation practices. This has led to

Dr. S. AYYAPPAN SECRETARY & DIRECTOR GENERAL GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION AND INDIAN COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, KRISHI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI 110 001 Tel.:23382629; 23386711 Fax:91-11-23384773 E-mail: dg.icar@nic.in vi increased moisture availability to crops leading to higher yields and cropping intensity. Increasing the rainwater harvesting capability along with crop production activities such as introduction of improved cultivars, addressing micro nutrient deficiency through site specific nutrient management, supplemental irrigation, mulching, use of zero till drill etc. have brought in new options to farmers in NICRA villages. Though it is early days yet, the outcomes so far have many interesting lessons that is worth sharing with a wide group of stakeholders. Therefore, an attempt is made to put together some of these lessons in the form of a document. This publication shows how simple and time tested interventions can help the communities to cope with the challenges of climate variability. I congratulate the team at CRIDA for putting together this publication and also complement each of the KVKs that have contributed to this compilation.