Regional synthesis report - icrisat

oot level resilience to climate change. The selection of the targeted location in each
country and the partnering institutions has had reflection on the information
collected, analysis and its manifestation in addressing the micro level climate change
research agenda. Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam followed the
unified framework, work plan and activities. Bangladesh and India has an added
distinct advantage of corroborating the farmer’s perceptions and impact on
livelihoods with the long term panel data sets. Selection of the Guizhou province in
China and the partnering institution stems from the idea of following up on the
similar RETA of adaptive research undertaken with ADB support by ICRISAT. The
advantage and disadvantage in nature of selection of the locations and partners
reflected in the results and discussion emanating from the country report and aptly
covered in the ensuing sections of synthesis report. There is a crucial need for
collection, analysis, and dissemination of reliable information on climate-response
related variables (including farmers perceptions) in a diverse micro-level spatial
contexts and preparation of area-specific inventories of indicative production and
resource use options (possibilities) for dryland agriculture to match with the
opportunities and constraints faced by the region.
The search for indicative adaptation options for the above inventory should focus
on:
Prevailing farmers' practices in different areas with varying degree of
vulnerability (e.g. water scarcity or aridity) and other environmental
constraints;
Agricultural R&D and location-specific scientific results;
Formal and informal institutions and support systems including
infrastructural changes with specific focus on success stories and visible
failures (and their reasons); and
Strengthening governance system that will ensure the best interest of the
farmers and those most affected by climate change.
These factors could help build an inventory of multiple and diverse options farmers
could choose from and use depending on the varying climatic conditions in their
micro level contexts. There is a further need to focus on the continued improvement
of both technical studies and policy development as science-based understanding
increases and their interrelationships and complexities become clearer. Study and
analysis of social networks is one such methodological tool which will improve our
understanding of the impacts of climate change and variability on the livelihoods of
the poor.
The insights from the six countries also clearly indicate that more research is needed
on the adaptation strategies, particularly for small holders and women in the face of
existing climate change impacts on agricultural productivity and food security,
including how these are manifested in different contexts, like:
What are the barriers to women's access to new technologies, extension
services, and credit facilities?
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