Providing Gender and Equity Balance in the NAPCC on
Agriculture
SUMAN SAHAI
Gender and Economic Policy Discussion Forum, Inst. of Social Studies Trust & Heinrich Boll Foundation, 02 July, 2013, New Delhi
Focus Areas of NAPCC- Agriculture
1.Dryland Agriculture
2.Risk Management
3.Access to Information
4.Use of Biotechnology
Risk Management
Strengthening weather insurance mechanisms
Creation of web-enabled, regional language based services to facilitate weather-based insurance
GIS and remote-sensing for soil resource mapping and land use planning at watershed/ river basin level
Risk Management..
Mapping vulnerable eco-regions and pest and disease hotspots
Developing and implementing region-specific contingency plans based on vulnerability and risk scenarios
Dryland Agriculture Development of drought- and pest-resistant crop
varieties
Improved methods to conserve soil and water
Stakeholder consultations, training and demonstration for agro-climatic information sharing and dissemination
Financial support to enable farmers to invest in and adopt relevant technologies to overcome climate related stresses
Use of Biotechnology
Use of GE for higher photosynthetic efficiency (C3 to C4 )
Development of crops with better water and nitrogen use efficiency to reduce GHG emissions
GE for drought, submergence & salinity tolerance
Nutritional strategies to manage heat stress in dairy animals leading to low milk yield
Use of Biotechnology..
Develop transgenic crops for drought and heat stress
Develop transgenic plants with enhanced capacity for CO2 fixation
Develop GE livestock, fish, poultry and microbes resistant to high temperature and drought
Use of Biotechnology….
Develop salt and disease resistant fresh water fish and prawn
Functional genomics to increase efficiency of re-fixing ammonia to reduce impact of ammonia volatilisation
Action Points - Rainfed Agriculture
Promote released vars of temperature resistant crops.
National Seed Grid to ensure supply of seed
Strategic research to develop suitable varieties and cropping systems for various agricultural climatic conditions to enhance yield levels.
Action Points - Rainfed Agriculture…
Promote micro irrigation systems in irrigated and rain fed areas in 40 Million hectares.
Undertake minimum tillage, organic farming, rain water conservation as adaptation and mitigation measures
Data Bases
National Portal on Soil Resources including Soil Survey at Block/Tehsil level
Soil Resource Mapping and Land Resource Planning
National Portal on Agricultural Statistics
Capacity Building through HRD for all Stakeholders of the System
Gene Campaign’s Recommendations
A knowledge-intensive, rather than input-intensive approach should be adopted to develop adaptation strategies.
Traditional knowledge about the community’s coping strategies should be used to find solutions
Knowledge held by women is particularly important
Special package for adaptation for rain fed areas based on minimizing risk.
Diversified production model including crops, livestock, fisheries, poultry and agro forestry
Homestead gardens supported by nurseries in the hands of women
Training programs to educate rural communities about climate change & adaptation
Conserving genetic diversity of crops and animal breeds (associated knowledge)
Breed improvement of indigenous cattle to improve their performance
Early warning system to monitor changes in pest and disease profile and predict new outbreaks.
National grid of grain storages from Grain Golas to ultra- modern silos to ensure local food security and stabilize prices.
Better agriculture credit and insurance systems to include both men and women
Adaptation and mitigation support structures for the 128 agro-ecological zones in the country.
Center for Climate Risk Research, Management and Extension
Develop Farming System Approaches
Farmer Field School
Provide Agromet Service
Network of community level seed banks
- contingency plans
- alternative cropping strategies
Decentralized seed production programs to address the crisis of seed availability.
Produce seeds of
- main crops
- contingency crops
- fodder and green manure plants
Food, water and health security will be the greatest casualties of global warming, women will be most vulnerable
Essential to develop and implement gender appropriate climate resilient systems for food and water security NOW