Building Climate Smart Farmers – Indian Perspective UNFCCC – COP 23 Building Climate Smart Farmers – Indian Perspective Case Study - Ocean Area Development, Arid Districts of Gujarat India National Council for Climate Change Sustainable Development and Public Leadership (NCCSD)- INDIA

Vivekanand Research & Training Institute A vision of Mr Vivekanand Research & Training Institute A vision of Mr. Kantisen Shroff Working with principles: Trusteeship philosophy Better understanding of Natural resources Community mobilization and participation Respect Traditional Wisdom & Utilize it VISION: Efficient use of natural resources which promotes sustainable development in synergy with surrounding environment. MISSION: Need based community development with focus on capacity building of community, linkages with different institutions involved in rural development and promote decentralized agro industrialization

Ocean Area Development Kachchh Bhavnagar & Amareli Due to rise in sea level, over-ground and under-ground salinity ingress on increase Programme coverage – 7500 households from 150 villages of Kachchh, Amareli & Bhavnagar districts of Gujarat, India

Coastal Salinity – Planning & Decision Matrix Problem Strategy Activity Plan Expected Impact Water is unfit for drinking and irrigation Improving water quality Developing local water source through rain water harvesting Improved quality of water Sweet water resources on decline Improving water availability Check dams, farm ponds, community ponds, bunds, roof top rain water harvesting Clean drinking water to household & livestock, multiple cropping, forage development Root zone affected due to salinity ingress Integrated soil management & reducing water usage through efficient practices Application of compost, green manuring, promoting micro irrigation, mulching Improvement in soil quality

Project highlight – Rainwater harvesting Name of activity No. of activity No. of beneficiaries Area benefited (Ha) Impact Check dams, bunds, community ponds, farm ponds 114 2532 5214 irrigation security, improvement in ground water quality Renovation of existing water storage structure and desilting 38 1044 2088 Application of fertile silt which resulted in reduced requirement of chemical fertilizer Dug well recharging 78 100 300

Project highlight – Rainwater harvesting Check dam – rain water storage Village – Zarpara, District - Kachchh Desilting of existing Structure Village – Moti Rayan, District – Kachchh

Project highlight – Efficient water use Name of activity No. of beneficiaries Area benefited (Ha) Impact Promotion of drip irrigation 3257 7854 About 50% irrigation water saving , more area under irrigation. Saving on different resources – fertilizer, labour Promotion of pipe for water delivery in agriculture field 370 450 Irrigation water saving Integrated Lift Irrigation Programme 80 206

Project highlight – Efficient water use Drip irrigation – efficient water use & water saving Village – Koday, District - Kachchh Using pipe for water delivery to farm – water saving Village – Bhujpur, District - Kachchh

Project highlight – Integrated Soil Management Name of activity No. of beneficiaries Area benefited (Ha) Impact Farm bunding (soil & moisture conservation) 143 179 Erosion control Promotion of composting 1382 1154 3248 MT waste converted to compost Promoting legume as intercrop 4193 Nitrogen fixation in soil and also providing food security (Nitrogen fixation - 138 MT in 4193 ha (299 MT urea saving)

Project highlight – Integrated Soil Management Incorporating crop residue in soil Composting from farm waste Legume as an intercrop

Project highlight – Drinking water & Sanitation Name of activity No. of beneficiaries (Household /village) Clean drinking water for household & livestock and village sanitation 150 villages Roof top rain water harvesting for drinking water 677 HH Household sanitation 7341 HH

Impact of different activities Increased crop productivity due to water quality improvement & assured irrigation leading to increased income Drudgery for fetching water has reduced considerably (Woman) Improvement in health and hygiene of the community

Agenda in progress Seaweed cultivation Climate change mitigation through photosynthesis activity by seaweed The seaweed cultivation has potential to provide triple win situation by providing employment opportunities, clean & renewable energy and higher agricultural production through its use as compost

Seaweed Cultivation, biogas & power generation Seaweed farming near Mandvi - Kachchh Seaweed based Biogas plant & power generation at VRTI Mandvi - Kachchh

Conclusion Climate change impact are at local level Solutions to meet the challenges of adversities also lies at local level With convergence of efforts under Public – Private Partnership, it has been possible to meet these challenges. What needed is capacity building, involving the stakeholders & persistent efforts.

J S Gosalia Vivekanand Research & Training Institute, Nagalpur Road, Near Jain Ashram, Mandvi – Kachchh, Pin – 370465, India Web: www.vrti.org Email: gosalia.jayprakash@excelind.com, vrtimandvi@gmail.com