Adaptation Practitioners Days:Adaptation in Asia – India: “Adaptation to Climate Change in Drought Stricken Areas of South India”

Dr. S. V. Govardhan Das

Reversing Environmental Degradation and Rural Poverty through Adaptation to Climate Change in Drought Stricken Areas in Southern India: A Hydrological Unit Pilot Project Approach

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das

COP 18: Development and Climate DaysUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Red Cross / Red Crescent Centre (RCCC)International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

1

Socio-economic ContextSocio-economic Context

• India is 10th largest by Nominal GDP (IMF, 2011)

• 3 rd largest by purchasing power parity (PPP)• Ranks 140th by GDP and 129th by PPP• Agriculture sector constitutes only 7.8% of GDP• 50% of the work force engaged in Agriculture• About two-thirds of the agriculture is rain-fed• Drought seriously affects rain-fed agriculture• 60% Irrigated Agriculture is groundwater based

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 2

Socio-economic ContextSocio-economic Context

• The United Nations World Water Development Report (2003) states that, in India: – 69 percent of people in non-irrigated areas are poor– in irrigated areas this figure falls to 2 percent • In India, 76 percent of operational landholdings are

small (2 ha or less)• Therefore, poor in India are represented by: • Smallholders with no irrigation source• Landless agriculture workers

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 3

Genesis of the projectGenesis of the project

• 1995-2003: APWELL project provided bore-well irrigation facility to 3,500 smallholders

• 2000: Sustenance of wells became a major concern• 2000: Participatory Hydrological Monitoring Pilot• 2001: Crop Water Budgeting• 2004-2009: APFAMGS Project• 2010: Strategic Pilot on Adaptation to Climate Change• 2012: The approach adopted in the Twelfth National

Five Year Plan (2013-2017)1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 4

LocationLocation

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 5

StakeholdersStakeholders

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 6

ObjectivesObjectives

• Global Environmental Objective: Contribute to knowledge building and experience in integrating climate change adaptation in sustainable land and water management, in drought prone areas

• Development Objective: Strengthen the knowledge and capacities of communities in pilot Hydrological Units in Andhra Pradesh, India are to respond to climate change impacts

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 7

Components and OutcomesComponents and OutcomesComponent 1: INFORMATION TOOLS

– Baseline Study– Participatory Climate Monitoring

Component 2: PILOTS– Famer Climate Schools– Sustainable Land and Water Management Pilots

Component 3: DISSEMINATION AND UPTAKE– Community level– District level government departments

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 8

ProgressProgressComponent 1: INFORMATION TOOLS

– Baseline Study completed– Participatory Climate Monitoring established

Component 2: PILOTS– Famer Climate Schools: 6 sessions organized– SLWM Pilots: Started

Component 3: DISSEMINATION AND UPTAKE– Community level: Started– District level government departments: Started

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 9

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 10

Participatory Climate MonitoringParticipatory Climate Monitoring

23/11/2012 S V Govardhan Das 11

Farmer Climate SchoolsFarmer Climate Schools

SSLSSL

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 12

SLWM PilotsSLWM Pilots

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 13

Documentation and DisseminationDocumentation and Dissemination

ChallengesChallenges• Demystifying weather science and its uncertainties

• Land use changes

• Rural conflicts

• Ensuring participation of vulnerable groups and women

• Dealing with multiple stakeholders

• High level of reporting

• Recruiting and retaining professionals

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 14

Way forwardWay forward

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 15

• Integration of PCM data with FCS and SLWM pilots

• Climate monitoring against baseline values

• Monitoring impact of climate variability on crops

• Piloting and finalizing PCM curriculum

• Piloting crop-specific SLWM packages

• Manuals on: PCM, FCS and SLWM packages

• Documentation: reports, leaflets, farmer records

• Dissemination: website updating, media contact and policy advocacy workshops

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 16

Reach Us:http://www.birds-spacc.org

Contact:Dr. S. V. Govardhan Das

Project ManagerEmail: samala.spacc@gmail.com

For more informationFor more information

1/12/2012 S V Govardhan Das 17

Thank YouThank You