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

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equipment and machinery). The model was developed for land units of 1-2 hectares under rain-fed conditions, which previously cultivated cotton. It aims at providing a resilient agro-ecosystem with inbuilt resistance against seasonal weather variations by careful selection of different crop varieties. As the total growing period in the area is only 6 months, crops which are able to grow side by side are necessary. The model uses a combination of cash crops and food crops to diversify the farmers’ food sources and achieve nutritional security, as well as economic benefits through sales of cash crops. Table 13 shows the degree of production autonomy of a household achieved after 3 years of “selfreliance” farming: Table 13: Degree of self-reliance achieved from one hectare of rain fed dry land - average of three years (2004- 2006) Crops Family needs per year (kg) 88 Production from one hectare (kg) Cereals (excluding wheat) 302 245 81 Pulses 80 300 374 Spices 27 9 33 Vegetables (for 3.5. months) 50 63 127 Oil seed (for 50 litres of oil) 120 120 100 Other food 10 18 183 Cash crops (cotton, soybean, pigeon pea) Cash (from sale of cash crops and fodder, plus external wages Source: Chetana Vikas 700 Rs. 11,789 Self-reliance achieved (%) With the help of Chetana Vikas, some farmers in Wardha district started practicing the “self-reliance”model. They experimented with different combinations of crops (6 to 25 crops on one plot) and chose the one best suited to their farm. One of the farmers, Chirkut, from the village Bonderthana told that he was able to manage a combination of 25 crops in 1.5 acre of land. The different crops are presented in Table 14. 88
Table 14: crop combination in the “self-reliance” model Cereals: 1. Sorghum 2. Maize 3. Pearl millet 4. Green Amaranths 5. Coarse millet Pluses: 1. Pigeon pea 2. Moth 3. Green gram 4. Black gram 5. Cowpea Oil Seeds: 1. Peanut 2. Soybean 3. Sesame Spices: 4. Turmeric 5. Chilli 89 Vegetables: 1. Beans 2. Tomato 3. Cluster bean 4. Lady finger 5. Gourd 6. Cucumber 7. Ridge gourd Other crops: 8. Cotton 9. Sun hemp Using this practice has several advantages for farmers: There are less pest-attacks and diseases, so the need for chemical pesticides is reduced. Additionally, by inter-cropping, the plants cover the soil surface better, so are able to conserve more moisture in the soil and to convert more sunlight into food and fiber. Growing drought resistant varieties: Due to changes in rainfall patterns, many farmers try to minimizing loses from crop failure through increased use of drought-tolerant crops, including pigeon pea, sorghum, green gram and black gram. According to farmers, these varieties are much better adapted to resist dry My name is Gajanan and I am a farmer from Virus village of Wardha district. I am practicing “self-reliance” farming since 5 years and this has provided me with many benefits. Especially my income has improved considerably. In only two years, I was able to repay my loan to the moneylenders. With the additional money, I bought food I do not produce myself and was even able to add on to our house. Before, I only grew cotton and after some crop failures, I accumulated a lot of debts. With “self-reliance” farming, I can grow a variety of crops and get income from various sources. In addition, I do not need much money for fertilizers and pesticides. The nature does most of the work for me! spells and other weather features of the region. In addition, growing of these crops, especially sorghum provides additional fodder for cattle through the use of the plant residues. 89
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Adaptation of small scale farmers t
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Disclaimer This report is the resul
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3 CASE STUDY ANDHRA PRADESH 35 3.1
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6.3.1 Agriculture sector 83 6.3.2 I
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1 Climate Change India: An Introduc
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of its share in the GDP, it is stil
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1.2.2 National Farmers Policy 2007
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maintenance of soil fertility both
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Figure iii Farmer presenting the re
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2 Case Study Rajasthan 2.1 Backgrou
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According to farmers, the weather s
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Reduction in rainfall is considered
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2.3.3 Impact on Livelihood Farmers
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Adoption of biodiversity based orga
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2.4.2 Water sector The most limitin
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Furrow irrigation: small trenches i
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2.5 Recommendations for future acti
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3 Case Study Andhra Pradesh 3.1 Bac
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Page 39 and 40: 3.3 Climate Change Impacts The foll
Page 41 and 42: Reduced income and food security: A
Page 43 and 44: However, the rainfall quantity is n
Page 45 and 46: The results of the regulation schem
Page 47 and 48: “Extension services are very impo
Page 49 and 50: provided by the local seed dealers.
Page 51 and 52: 4.1.1 Climate The climate varies fr
Page 53 and 54: Padam Singh, 52 years, of Nala vill
Page 55 and 56: Table 5: People’s perceptions of
Page 57 and 58: More attack of insects and pests: F
Page 59 and 60: This is one of the important practi
Page 61 and 62: Figure xiv Indigenous variety of pa
Page 63 and 64: term resilience of agro ecosystems
Page 65 and 66: 5 Case Study Orissa 5.1 Background
Page 67 and 68: 5.2 Evidences of Climate change Ori
Page 69 and 70: The tribal population of the study
Page 71 and 72: years, but what it is certain that
Page 73 and 74: Figure xvii Farmer's fields with tr
Page 75 and 76: Figure xviii Rejuvenated forests af
Page 77 and 78: Figure xix Watershed management pla
Page 79 and 80: 5.5.2 Agriculture related For the r
Page 81 and 82: 6.1.2 Rainfall The rainfall pattern
Page 83 and 84: One of the major concerns expressed
Page 85 and 86: ten bore wells, only five were succ
Page 87: epay. Of the 3.4 million cotton far
Page 91 and 92: wet season and less cracking afterw
Page 93 and 94: 7 Summary and Conclusions: This rep
Page 95 and 96: Promotion of Sustainable agricultur
Page 97 and 98: States Summary of insights: Experie
Page 99 and 100: 9 References 1. A. Kitoh, R. Knutti
Page 101: 32. Pashupalak, 2009: Climate chang
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Adaptation of small scale farmers to climatic risks in India - Sustainet

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