Webinar highlights innovations for climate-resilient agriculture in Asian Mega-Deltas
Thursday, 2024/09/19 | 08:22:55
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CGIAR September 13 2024
Dhaka, September 10, 2024 – To combat climate change impacts in the agricultural systems of the Ganges Delta regions of Bangladesh and India, a webinar titled “Asian Mega-Deltas Initiatives for Resilient and Adaptive Agri-Food Systems” was organized by South Asia Regional Resilience Hub, which is a part of the Gobeshona Program at the International Center for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD).
The session featured presentations on technological innovations and community-driven strategies to strengthen agricultural resilience in the Ganges Delta regions of Bangladesh and India.
The discussions showcased how cutting-edge technology, nature-based solutions, and community-led innovations transform the agriculture sector by enhancing climate and livelihood resilience and adaptation in the Asian-Mega Deltas. The focus was on Bangladesh and India as part of the Ganges Delta.
The Asian Mega-Deltas, home to millions of people, are facing increasing threats from climate change, including salinity intrusion, water scarcity, and erratic weather patterns. These environmental challenges have a direct impact on agricultural productivity and food security. The webinar highlighted practical solutions and innovations aimed at transforming farming practices to better cope with these challenges.
Key Innovations to Combat Climate Risks
Dr. Manoranjan Mondol from IRRI highlighted waterlogging as a major challenge in the coastal zones of Bangladesh for cropping system intensification and diversification. These issues can be addressed through nature-based solutions By synchronizing sluice gate operations with tidal patterns of the coastal river networks, waterlogging in the polders can be better managed to support High-Yielding Varieties (HYVs) of rice during the wet season and facilitate the early establishment and safe harvest of dry-season crops. He stressed on utilizing residual soil water and semi-mechanized practices that can further sustain dry season productivity. These agronomic innovations can potentially boost food grain production, significantly contributing to the future food security challenges of Bangladesh.
Dr. Dhiman Burman from India presented land-shaping techniques as a solution to salinization and freshwater scarcity in the Ganges Delta. His data showed that reconfiguring land to harvest rainwater and plant high-value crops has led to a 240% increase in crop intensity and an 80% improvement in irrigation coverage. This innovation is transforming farming in saline-prone areas, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also boosting yields and income for smallholder farmers.
Integrating Aquaculture and Agriculture to Improve Nutrition and Resilience
Dr. Hazrat Ali, highlighted Integrated Aquaculture-Agriculture (IAA) as an approach to address malnutrition and promote sustainability. The method, which integrates fish farming with crop cultivation on the same land, provides farmers with diverse food sources and improves water efficiency. Dr. Ali noted that this practice not only reduces vulnerability to extreme weather but also enhances both nutritional and economic outcomes for farming communities, offering a sustainable way forward in the face of worsening climate conditions.
Harnessing Technology to Support Farmers
Technology played a central role in the solutions presented during the webinar. Dr. T.S. Amjath Babu shared how mobile apps and decision support systems can help farmers in Bangladesh make informed decisions based on weather forecasts. These tools are designed to prevent climate-related disruptions in our food value chains, such as rice, chili, and watermelon farming. He emphasized the financial potential of novel digital climate services, stressing the need for collaboration between public and private sectors to scale these innovations.
Addressing Governance and Gender Disparities
Dr. Deepa Joshi brought attention to the socio-ecological challenges plaguing Bangladesh’s coastal regions, including freshwater shortages and gender inequality in resource access. Despite the rapid growth in agricultural output, particularly in rice and fish, women and smallholder farmers remain marginalized. Dr. Joshi urged policymakers to adopt more inclusive governance models, emphasizing the importance of gender-responsive budgeting to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women and the poor.
Climate-Smart Mapping to Drive Adaptation Planning
Dr. Ahmad Salahuddin introduced the Climate-Smart Mapping and Adaptation Planning (CS-MAP) methodology, a success in Vietnam, and a part of the CGIAR Initiative on Asian Mega-Deltas. This is a participatory approach which leverages both scientific data and locally knowledge to create region-specific adaptation plans. Dr. Salahuddin emphasized that scaling CS-MAP across Bangladesh’s coastal districts could help farmers preemptively mitigate climate risks, safeguarding food production and livelihoods. This could be achieved by adapting the methodology for use by the government and implementing it on a national scale.
Way Forward
The session was concluded by Dr. Humnath Bhandari, with a Q/A session and call for action as the future of millions depends on how quickly these innovations can be scaled to secure food security and climate resilience. It was a knowledge-sharing session and a part of the dialogue to facilitate conversation on COP 29.
This webinar was a part of the Asian Mega-Deltas Initiative, part of CGIAR which is working to improve climate resilience and adaptation in agrifood systems. The webinar brought together scientists and a mixture of different actors to discuss their experiences being involved with the research, technology, and innovations to transform the agriculture sector by enhancing climate and livelihood resilience and adaptation in the Asian-Mega Deltas.
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