Conservation agriculture: an option to overcome agricultural crisis in Kerala

Transcription

1 Conservation agriculture: an option to overcome agricultural crisis in Kerala K. Shadananan Nair Nansen Environmental Research Centre (India) & K. R. Rethikala Bishop Kurialachery College, India

2 Kerala: - Densely populated small state in the SW corner of India Area Km2 (1.18% of India) Population (2011) > 32M (3.43%) of India Decadal growth rate of population %

3 State is rich in rainfall and water resources: 3000 to 7000mm rainfall 44 rivers their numerous tributaries, canals etc Water potential not yet fully utilised and irrigation not well developed - 75% rainwater flows into the Sea, unutilised In spite of heavy rainfall and rich cultivable land, Kerala is not self sufficient in food (produces only 25% of requirement) Depends on neighbouring states for vegetables and cereals High transportation cost Presence of preservation chemicals and pesticides - health problem

4 Vested political interests spoil agriculture: Land reforms act made thousands of farmers landless overnight -80% landlords quit agriculture Politically motivated strikes for unaffordable wages made farming unprofitable Sudden strikes during the pre-monsoon harvest period and deliberate delay inprocurement by the agencies spoil large amount of rice almost every year Political party even banned traditional harvest songs Thousands quit agriculture - shortage of labourers, but trade unions oppose farm machinery More than half of the paddy fields have been destroyed by the real estate lobbies - reduced crop production, worsened floods and droughts

5 Changing climate: Increasing rainfall seasonality water shortage during premonsoon months Increasing rainfall intensity: floods/landslides Increasing convection: convective clouds with large rain dropserosion of surface soil Rising temperature more loss by evaporation Failure in northeast monsoon (end of rainy season) prolonged dry season, less groundwater recharge Climate Models predict slight increase (0.2 C) in temperature and annual rainfall (5-10%) in 2 decades Increase in precipitation may not compensate for the reduction in soil moisture due to evaporation

6 Large scale degradation of land and water Uncontrolled illegal sand mining in rivers and watersheds: groundwater level depleted by 1 to 4 metres in 2 decades seven once perennial rivers became seasonal in last century 20% of water bodies were lost in last 2 decades Capacity of major reservoirs considerably reduced

7 Mining alters hydrological regime while enhancing silt movement

8 Millions of hectors of natural forests cleared for tea/rubber/teak plantations: landslides and floods reduces the water storage capacity of soil reduces storage capacity of reservoirs soil erosion in watersheds and sedimentation in rivers reduces summer flow in rivers

9 Sand/clay/gravel quarries and special economic zones destroy paddy fields

10 Water disputes haltered agricultural development for decades: Major disputes are over water allocation for agriculture Issues worsen when monsoons fail New disputes may arise under a changing climate

11 Socio-economic issues associated with setbaccks in agriculture: Shortage of reliable food Hiking price of food Conflict over food allocation Rural unemployment - - growing poverty - urban migration conflicts Shutting down of rural bank - farmers turn to moneylenders Drought and debt made indebted farmers to commit suicide Mental Illness identified as key Killer by 2025 WHO

12 Challenges ahead: Inflow of migrants-rising food demand Hiking price of seed, fertilizer, pesticides Climate extremes - shifting rainfall pattern/characteristics, extremes in temperature, severe weather Increasing vulnerability to tropical storms and rising sea level (1mm/year) threat to coastal agriculture Change in government policy favouring industries - traditional basis of economy shifts from agriculture to industries Acquisition of land and introduction of genetically modified varieties and monopoly in distribution by big firms small farmers unable to compete Shrinking of farm area encroachment by industries, real estate Urbanization Intensive agriculture and overuse of fertilizers-land becomes infertile National river linking project water diversion will badly affect Kerala

13 Rising price of fossil fuel - cost of operating farm machinery, cost of transportation and price of fertilizers increases New banking protocol by the Reserve Bank of India for the cooperative sector may bring agriculture lending to a complete halt and render Financial crisis has become a food crisis - rising unemployment, falling incomes and high food price put enormous pressure on poor and vulnerable groups Another green revolution necessary to feed the millions but, availability of land and water decreases

14 Health risk of workers: Increasing temperature-sunburns affect working class Increasing casualties associated with lightning Increasing range of vector borne diseases Area prone to malaria will increase by at least 10% by India has lost millions of DALYs in recent years (disability-adjusted life years) lost due to malaria (World Bank) Endemic regions of malaria (1980 to 2000) Bhattacharya et al., CURRENT SCIENCE, 2006 Regions likely to be affected by malaria as per climate change projections (HadRM2runs: IS92a scenario-india)

15 Introduction of conservation agriculture has proved the sustainability, economic benefits and increase in production, especially in rice farming Zero Budget Natural Farming (holistic agriculture) becoming popular Counters the commercial expenditure and market dependency of farmers for the inputs like fertilisers and pesticides Involves locally obtainable natural bio-degradable materials Combines scientific knowledge of ecology and modern technology with traditional farming practices based on naturally occurring biological processes Uses natural pesticides and fertilizers

16 The measures use the natural environment to enhance agricultural productivity: Planting legumes to fix nitrogen into the soil Green manure and composting for natural production of nutrients in the soil Encouraging natural insect predators Crops rotation to confuse pests and renew soil Use of natural materials such as potassium bicarbonate and mulches to control disease and weeds Erosion control with local plants

17 "Jeevamrutha" (Nectar of Life), natural fertilizer (developed by Subhash Palekar) Mixture of cow dung, cow urine, jaggery, flour, soil and water Seed and plant diseases are treated with cheap easily available materials like buttermilk, black pepper, neem and tobacco For I acre: 10 kg of cow dung, 5 to 10 litres of cow urine, 2 kg of jaggery, 2 kg of flour of green gram, black gram or cow pea with a handful of soil and 200 litres of water. Allow fermentation for two days Stir twice a day for two days before using it Apply thrice for a month. Agricultural land should be mulched with dried grass, rotting leaves and twigs The dung generated by one cow is sufficient to produce "Jeevamrutha" for 30 acres. Can be used for any crop

18 Pokkali farming: oldest unique saline tolerant long stemmed rice variety that is cultivated in an organic way in the water-logged coastal regions: Highly environment-friendly High medicinal value Rice is cultivated from June to early November when the salinity level of the water in the fields is low. From mid-november to mid-april, when the salinity is high, prawn farming takes over The prawn seedlings, which swim in from the sea and the backwaters after the rice harvest Feed on the leftovers of the harvested crop Sluice gates are used to control the water flow to the fields Only fertilizer/manure to rice is the nutrients from the prawns excrement and other remnants

19 Below Sea Level Farming Vembanad - Kol Wetland. (Ramsar No. 1214) Recognised as a Globally Important Agriculture Heritage System (GIAHS) by FAO: unique, below sea level farming practice and traditional knowledge in water management developed ingeniously over a century 500Km 2 of the total 1100Km 2 area lies 0.6 to 2.2 m below sea level 30% area is inhabited - most of the inhabited area was recovered from water Large area under rice cultivation - vital in maintaining food security and providing livelihood to millions Major project to extend and multiply rice farming is under implementation

20 Recent steps by the government: Promotion of low cost, locally available traditional technologies in soil and water conservation Agreements with banks for agricultural loans with low interest and simplified formalities Labour bank for women to promote rice farming Promoting agriculture through self help groups (SHGs, mostly women), Schemes for land protection and agricultural expansion through rural employment schemes Arrangement for subsidised supply for seeds and fertilizers Popularisation of modern agricultural technologies that minimises the use of water and new concept of utilising inexpensive biofertilizers Inclusion of environmental protection in curriculum Vermicompost production in urban centres employment for women

21 Revival and of traditional landuse practices through rural employment guarantee scheme Heaps of sand to trap water, recharge groundwater, prepare the soil and remove weeds Done before NE monsoon (end of rainy season)

22 National Action Plan on Climate Change: Initiatives in the agriculture sector Developing watersheds in rainfed areas Implementing drought-proofing measures Drought-resistant varieties Crop diversification On-farm water-efficient technologies Introducing a system of credits and loans to farmers National Agricultural Insurance Scheme Resource conserving technologies for crop production

23 Response to extreme climate events Community-level awareness and strengthening capacity to address risks of disasters State-level disaster management authorities (SDMAs)

24 Hurdles in climate change impact mitigation measures: Lack of finance Lack of public awareness Poor information system/unreliable data banks Lack of adequate planning and vision Lacks of efficient disaster management programme and task force Beurocracy/slow government machinery Fragmented organizational structures Non-cooperation among agencies and Government departments Weak administrative and legal mechanisms Corruption/misappropriation of money Vested political/regional interests: rules/ regulations become farce Social issues: conflict among different groups Delay in projects 60% projects have been lagging for several years, slowing down development and causing waste of money

25 Recommendations A comprehensive, frequently updated policy for climate change adaptation and mechanism for effective implementation Enforcement of law to control encroachment into paddy fields and wetlands Awareness to farmers on new agricultural practices, new drought- resistant or pest- resistant seeds, crop diversification, etc Joint multi-state projects in agriculture to solve water disputes Insurance against climate extremes and simplification of procedures Promotion and coordination of traditional and environment friendly technologies in agriculture and water conservation Schemes to attract young generation for agriculture Include labourers in relief packages to tackle farm crisis Promotion of upper land farming (around households) Special economic package and technical assistance to small/marginal farmers Better storage facilities for seeds and grains (poor storage facility of FCI-25% consumed by rats) Timely procurement of products Encourage use of old traditional rice varieties tolerate floods/droughts, pest resistant Tourism promotion in regions of wetland agriculture income to farmers

26 Exploit the changes in climate: Floodwater may be stored or diverted to dry zones or may be stored in abandoned quarries Based on the shift in regional climate, region of farming, time of farming and type of crop may be changed

27 On a scale of 0 to 10, India scores a poor 0.5 in preparedness for the effects of climate change that could include severe water scarcity, floods, drought and mass migration - Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman, IPCC Current policies affecting water use, management, and development in India are unresponsive to changing climate, Prof. Lal, WG II, IPCC Report

28 potential high impact of climate change on the performance of climate sensitive sectors necessitates finding suitable adaptation options as part of a comprehensive climate change policy

29 Climate change has already started affecting the poor. Future strategies to combat climate change will be more effective if it is linked to development and poverty alleviation, ensuring food security Photo courtesy: AFP