Adaptation of small scale farmers to climatic risks in India - Sustainet

To offset crop failure arising from rainfall variability and unpredictability, farmers cultivate several
hardier (or drought-tolerant) types of the same crop species. Many prefer the use of local grains such
as millets and sorghums that are more drought-resistant than
many maize or wheat varieties. In rain deficient years, such
crops fare considerably better in term of yields, than the more
water demanding species. During interviews, women farmer
provided the information on the existence of indigenous wheat
known as deshi gehu (local wheat), or lal gehu (red wheat).
Deshi or indigenous wheat has just about vanished from this
region and was not planted in any of the visited villages.
According to these elderly women, this wheat variety grows
with far less water than modern wheat, and might be life saving
in drought years.
Shifting cropping patterns and delayed sowing: Due to reduced
water availability, some farmers have stopped growing crops,
which require greater amount of water such as cotton and
wheat. They have successfully shifted cropping patterns to
species requiring less water. They started growing cumin
seeds, gram, black gram, and some oilseed crops like mustard.
A diversity of crop types and varieties are grown in rotation and
in different areas of farm properties, which spreads the risk of
losing an entire year's production. The important crops grown
in the mixed cropping system are Pearl millet, Sesame, Green
gram, Sorghum and Maize.
By necessity, farmers shift their sowing periods according to
the weather. Earlier, farmers were taking decisions about their
cropping pattern and sowing time on Krishi Panchang
(agricultural vedic calendar), which includes a climate forecast
for an entire year based on planetary positions. Such traditional
weather forecast is not working appropriately anymore and
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We plant less wheat and
no chickpeas anymore as
these crops failed too
often. We shifted cropping
patterns to local varieties
of pulses, green gram,
millets and mustard, which
are less water demanding.
Rotating green gram and
mustard works very well
and both crops have a
ready market. We use the
money to buy additional
wheat for our rotis”,
explains Ram Prasad Jat
from Kaanwarpura village.
farmers adapted to changing weather conditions by taking more spontaneous decisions. In the absence
of efficient weather forecast such decisions are however risky and many farmers reported to be
helpless facing increased weather variability. Where possible, some farmers are re-introducing native
grasses for pasturing. These grasses are drought resistant and even support rotational grazing,
reducing thereby the fodder penury.
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