Page 15 - Workshop on Reimagining Disaster Risk Reduction

Workshop on “Reimagining Disaster Risk Reduction: The Role
of Standardization and Innovative Technologies”

In Maharashtra, various in-situ conservation practices under the National Innovations for Climate
Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) have shown positive results, including:

• Ridges and furrow in soybean leading to a 24% yield increase.
• Sowing across slopes resulting in a 21% increase.
• Broad-bed furrow for soybean yielding a 17% increase
NDMA's efforts in addressing drought through innovative practices and comprehensive
planning are crucial for enhancing resilience in agriculture and ensuring sustainable livelihoods
in drought-prone regions of India

• Rajbir Singh, Assistant Director General, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR)
Through his presentation, Mr Rajbir discussed the challenges and strategies related to drought
and desertification, particularly in dryland regions, which constitute about 41% of the global land
area. These drylands are categorized into arid (42%), semi-arid (37%), and dry sub-humid (21%)
areas, with significant regions found across continents including Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Drylands face numerous climatic stresses such as low and erratic rainfall, extreme temperatures,
and fragile resource bases. The soil quality is often poor, with low organic carbon and water-
holding capacity, leading to low agricultural productivity and high vulnerability to climate
change3. Additionally, demographic pressures from human and livestock populations
exacerbate the risk of desertification.

Despite these challenges, drylands possess distinct advantages, including adapted plant and
livestock species, rich traditional knowledge for resource conservation, and high solar radiation
levels. These factors can be harnessed to improve resilience against climatic stresses4.

The presentation outlined four key strategies for combating drought:

• Building upon traditional knowledge: Utilizing local practices and wisdom.
• Harnessing natural strengths: Leveraging the unique advantages of drylands.
• Enhancing adaptive capacity: Improving resilience through various means.
• Climate adaptation: Implementing strategies to adapt to changing climatic conditions.
Mr Singh also emphasized the importance of Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) as a pathway
to reduce climatic risks and enhance livelihoods. IFS promotes a combination of annual and
perennial crops, livestock, and diversification to meet food and resource needs throughout the
year. Efficient irrigation methods, such as micro-irrigation and deficit irrigation, are highlighted
as crucial for water conservation. These methods can save significant amounts of water while
maintaining acceptable crop yields.

Choosing the right crops and cultivars that match local rainfall patterns and growing seasons is
essential for enhancing climatic resilience. The presentation suggested using drought-resistant
crops and adjusting planting times to better adapt to changing conditions.

The presentation also discussed technological solutions for combating desertification, including
sand dune stabilization and afforestation efforts. These initiatives have shown success in reducing
the area covered by sand dunes over the years. Mr Singh also highlighted that empowering
farmers through decision support systems (DSS) is crucial for mitigating adverse weather
impacts. This includes providing advisories on crop selection, irrigation scheduling, and pest
management.

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