ENHANCING ADAPTIVE CAPACITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN SEMI-ARID REGIONS OF INDIA

1. AFPRO ENHANCING ADAPTIVE CAPACITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN SEMI-ARID REGIONS OF INDIA An International Workshop on Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change: From Practice to Policy May 11-12, 2006 New Delhi, India Dr. N. Sai Bhaskar Reddy BASIC Project, India Workshop

2. V&A PROGRAMME Supported by : Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Global Environment Facility (GEF) Duration: 4 years (2005 to 2009) Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan States Project “VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT AND ENHANSING ADAPTIVE CAPACITY TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN SEMI-ARID AREAS OF INDIA” Institutional set-up • National consortiumlead • Lead partner is MSSRF • Co-partners are AFPRO and MANAGE • International consortiumsupport services • INFRAS and INTERCOOPERATION Switzerland BASIC Project, India Workshop

3. Semi-arid regions ? • These climates are characterized by the fact that precipitation is less than potential evapotranspiration. • Characterized by relatively low annual rainfall of 25 to 60 centimeters and having scrubby vegetation with short, coarse grasses; not completely arid. Basic Project, India Workshop

4. Why semi-arid area was chosen ? • Climate extremes are an expected characteristic of semi-arid lands. • The people living in the semi-arid areas are particularly vulnerable to droughts, which trigger frequent subsistence crises --sharply increasing crop failures, dislocation, famine, poverty, increases stratification and the social inequities. Basic Project, India Workshop

5. Peoples Voices Increase in migration in our village is due to lack of rains, the agricultural labor are migrating to urban areas. - Mr. Balaram Reddy, Karimnagar People are shifting out of agriculture and taking up other means of livelihood activities due to lack of water. In this context food security has become another important issue - Mr. Sheshagiri Rao, Bharat Krishak Samaj Mahabubnagar Basic Project, India Workshop

6. Enhancing Adaptive capacity 1. The general ability of institutions, systems, and individuals to adjust to potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences. 2. Most populations know from local history the frequency and likely consequences of extreme climatic events. And most populations in highly variable or extreme climatic zones shape their livelihood systems to buffer against potential catastrophes. Basic Project, India Workshop

7. Internal measures Mitigation (Kyoto Protocol) Joint Implementation Flexible mechanisms International Emissions Trading UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism Step I: Assessment of impacts and vulnerability Adaptation Step II: Capacity building Step III: Adaptation measures Basic Project, India Workshop

8. The process of adaptation At the appropriated level Preparation (incl. training/training needs evaluation) Vulnerability assessment Implementation of adaptation measures Basic Project, India Workshop

9. Objectives of Policy and Advocacy • To foster dialogue and improve communication between all kind of interfaces in order to better address climate changes. • Agree with partners on a common conceptual framework regarding the way forward. • To ensure bottom-up linkages through policy dialogue at national and international level . Basic Project, India Workshop

10. Nationally support process that would influence the systems within the government, through dialogue on a meaningful platform Internationally support process which would lead to simplification of protocols and mechanisms in favor of the poor Support to partners for documenting best practices /cases to influence policies BASIC Project, India Workshop

11. Basic Project, India Workshop

12. Policy and Advocacy - Process Other national and international partners for selected activities SDC - Steering and trust management National Level Steering Committee • GOI (Agriculture and MoEF), NGOs, Research Institutions, SDC, other donors, etc. State Level Advisory Committees (for Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan States) • GoAP, NGOs, Research Institutions, District Collector, etc. National Forum on Advocacy Vulnerability Atlas by MSSRF A Website for sharing the learning’s Basic Project, India Workshop

13. V & A Programme - Goal To secure the livelihoods of rural poor & vulnerable communities by promoting adoption measures that builds & enhance their capacity to better cope with adverse impacts of climate change & by promoting their disaster preparedness Basic Project, India Workshop

14. Project Objectives • To build community level capacities with regards to best practices and technologies in the agriculture, water & energy sector • To optimize the service delivery system & services at selected sites of AP & Raj • To promote policy dialogue, & advocacy at different levels Basic Project, India Workshop

15. Salient features of the V & A Programme • Process oriented, allowing a multi-level, learning-action-reflection cycle • Holistic approach (funds, functionaries and functions): systemic livelihoods • Interlinking levels: community level with state, national, regional, and international level • Focus on ‘optimising delivery systems' at local community level, i.e. the role of extension services in enhancing the coping capacity of local liveli-hood systems against the adverse impacts of climate change. Basic Project, India Workshop

16. Thematic Focus Agriculture (Food Security) Water (Availability & Quality) Rural Energy (Biomass) Basic Project, India Workshop

17. Field level interventions Basic Project, India Workshop

18. Duration/Period: • 2005: Inception phase: • Finalise work plan, plan activities, start first activities • 2006-2007: Implementation phase • Research, action learning, pilot activities at community level, • 2008: Outreach & dissemination phase • Translate action learning and pilot activity results into policy dialogue. Basic Project, India Workshop

19. Scope of Activities • Research • Capacity Building • Partnership Building • Infrastructure Building • Demonstration of relevant ideas/technologies Basic Project, India Workshop

20. Research Document- ation of Best Practices Vulnerability Profile Knowledge Gaps Review of Institutional Functions, Policies Research Appropriate technologies Situational Analysis Basic Project, India Workshop

21. Capacity Building Training • Institutional Level • Community Level Education • Awareness Basic Project, India Workshop

22. V & A ProgrammeAndhra Pradesh Mahabubnagar District Basic Project, India Workshop

23. DISTRICT PROFILE • Geographical area : 18.45 Lakhs Ha. • Population : Male : 17.81 Lakhs : Female : 17.28 Lakhs : Total : 35.09 Lakhs 3. Literacy : 38.67% 4. Forest area : 16% 5. Rainfall (Normal) : 604 m.m. 6. Cattle population : 19.10 Lakh Cow Units 7. All the blocks are declared as Drought Prone Areas Basic Project, India Workshop

24. Rainfall Mahaboonagar District 1952-2003 Basic Project, India Workshop

25. CAUSE OF DROUGHT SITUATION • Skewed distribution of rainfall – 40% deficit from June-August which is the sowing season • Depletion of ground water situation • Untimely heavy rains during Sept – Oct affects the crops • Lack of Rainfall during November-December adversely affects Rabi sowings Basic Project, India Workshop

26. LIVELIHOODS  • Low productivity of lands and small land holdings leading to disguised unemployment, increasing the vulnerability. • The district is traditionally known for its migrant laborers one of the important causes are: • Non-sustainable traditional occupations • Wage rates are low and also women are paid less than men. • About 1.75 lakhs small farmers and 2.94 marginal farmers are dependent on wage employment. • About 3.20 lakhs agricultural laborers who are below poverty line are also dependent on agricultural wage employment. Basic Project, India Workshop

27. Activities at Village level • Situational Analysis Phase – I report of Andhra Pradesh is prepared. • Situational Analysis Phase – II Secondary Data Best Practices / Story lines Participatory Situational Analysis Bio-physical Studies Participatory Action Plan Capacity Building Basic Project, India Workshop

28. Framework for situation analysis Basic Project, India Workshop

29. Village level Awareness Campaigns Basic Project, India Workshop

30. Participatory Action Planning Basic Project, India Workshop

31. Exposure / Awareness - Farmers • Exposure and awareness field visits - Farmers, Women and youth Sustainable Agricultural Practices, agricultural implements, farm animals, kitchen gardens, food processing, non-farm livelihood options, Agro-meteorology information, agri-buisness, agri-clinics, non-farm based livelihoods, etc Basic Project, India Workshop

32. Water Management action plan with community participation Basic Project, India Workshop

33. Soil testing by village youth Basic Project, India Workshop

34. Home Gardens Basic Project, India Workshop

35. Good Stoves – Community participation in design and adaptation Basic Project, India Workshop

36. Good Stove Design www.bioenergylists.org Basic Project, India Workshop

37. Low-Cost Wood Gas Stoves designed with community participation Basic Project, India Workshop

38. Village Knowledge Centers Information Knowledge(Locale Specific and Demand Driven) VHF Basic Project, India Workshop

39. Establishment of Automatic Weather Stations in the Project Villages Basic Project, India Workshop

40. Thank you . . Basic Project, India Workshop