PA/06/11 11 February 2011
Australia helping farmers adapt to climate change
Farmers will be better placed to adapt to climate change through improved weather forecasts and new crop management strategies with the help of a research project that is being showcased today in Nemmani village, Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh.
Funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the research project is operating in three case study villages in the Warangal, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar districts of Andhra Pradesh.
“Climate changes are affecting farming across the world through shifts in rainfall patterns, changing temperature regimes and increased climate variability,” said the Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr Peter N Varghese.
“Timely communication about the weather will help farmers schedule irrigation during rain-free periods, and better plan the sowing and harvesting of crops.” he added.
He said “As dry agricultural nations, Australia and India have much to learn from each other, and I am pleased that through this collaboration Australia can share some of our experience with Indian farmers.”
ACIAR CEO Dr Nick Austin, who is visiting Nemmani on 12 February 2011, said the study is part of a five-year initiative developing climate change adaptation strategies for rainfed, rice-based farming communities in India, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Laos.
Nemmani is a small settlement of 700 households engaged in farming, livestock rearing and weaving in Nalgonda district. During the visit Dr Austin will take part in an interactive session in the Farmer’s Club on ways to adapt and manage crops through improved water management practices.
Medium range forecasts are customised to weather scenarios for each district and advisories are forwarded to Nemmani every Tuesday and Friday. The agromet advisory is displayed at prominent places in the village and the non government organisation Pilupu helps to provide the vital information to people in the field. The Farmers’ Club ‘Varsha’, with a membership of 30-40 farmers, meets twice a month to discuss the seasonal affects on crops and utility of agromet-advisories in farming operations. They also provide feedback on the accuracy of weather forecasts.
Project Coordinator, Dr Christian Roth of Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) said agromet advisories help farmers tailor a number of field operations, avoid the costs of re-sowing crops and adjust varieties from long to medium or quick maturing varieties to suit the shorter growing season.
“In the past six-months, farmers have started adopting the advisories to fine-tune field operations. As an example, some have used it to harvest rice while others have followed it for application of insecticides to control pests.”
“Work in all four countries has the same strategy of selecting and testing locally feasible adaptation options, then analysing how broadly they can be applied to inform policy makers on options and limitations for future climate adaptability” said Dr Roth.
Collaborating partners in India are
· Acharya NG Ranga AgriculturalUniversity (ANGRAU) Hyderabad
· Livelihoods and Natural Resources Management Institute (LNRMI), Hyderabad
· Indian Meteorology Department (IMD)
· National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF)
· Watershed Support Services and Activities Network (WASSAN) is the lead NGO which coordinates the activities of NGOs working at village level i.e. the Shanthi Service Society (Warangal), Pilupu (Nalgonda), and Indirapriyadarshani Women Welfare Association (Mahabubnagar)
· CSIRO Brisbane
For more information, please contact the Public Affairs Section at the Australian High Commission, New Delhi on 011 4139 9900.