Climate Resilience Building Among Farmers

Climate Resilience Building among Farmers through Crop Residue Management was introduced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, aiming to address the pressing issue of climate change. This targeted initiative is implemented in the agricultural states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, with a substantial total outlay of Rs. 559.38 crores. The initial funding of Rs. 100 crores is slated for allocation in the first phase. The initiative is designed to run until 2021, with the potential for continuation following evaluation. The following article explores this Central Government initiative's different aspects, spotlighting its significance and intended impact.

Need for the Program

India faces significant challenges in crop residue management, particularly in regions where cereal crops' residue is abundantly available during both Kharif and Rabi seasons. Factors such as increased mechanization, diminished livestock numbers, lengthy composting periods, and the absence of economically viable alternative uses have led to the increased practice of residue burning. This exacerbates climate variability issues and poses severe risks to air quality, soil health, and human health. Recognizing the urgency, the Government initiated this program to foster sustainable practices and effective interventions that strengthen climate resilience among farmers, mitigating potential environmental and health hazards.

Objectives

The project focuses on mitigating climate change impacts, enhancing adaptive capacities, and reducing harmful environmental effects caused by stubble burning. Key proposals include:

Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by educating farmers about crop residue management and promoting innovative uses for crop residue.
Facilitating sustainable entrepreneurship in rural areas through engagement with FCs/FPOs/PACs/JLGs/individual entrepreneurs for effective crop residue management.
Boosting farmers' resilience and income through alternative crop residue uses in targeted locales.
Identifying additional benefits and advocating for necessary policy changes.

Crop Residue and its Usage

Crop residue encompasses the plant material left in fields post-harvest. It has varied uses, including animal feed, fodder, fuel, roof thatching, packaging, and composting. Primarily, cereal residues serve as cattle feed. In states like West Bengal, rice straw and husk are utilized as domestic fuel or in boilers for rice parboiling. These uses differ across states, emphasizing the need for tailored residue management strategies.

Executionary Bodies

Relevant state bodies are tasked with implementing this scheme:

Punjab: Department of Agriculture (DOA) and Punjab Council for Science and Technology (PCST).
Haryana: Department of Agriculture (DOA).
Rajasthan: Department of Agriculture (DOA) and Animal Husbandry (AH).
Uttar Pradesh: Department of Agriculture (DOA)/Bio-Energy Board.

Scope of Implementation

The initiative adopts a phased execution approach, beginning with awareness generation and capacity building to encourage alternative farming practices. Technology interventions will facilitate the efficient management of crop residue and optimize the use of existing machinery. Rural communities will see the formation of sustainable entrepreneurship models through the upscaling of successful initiatives. Initial phases will focus on Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, utilizing a budget of INR 100 crores and potentially leveraging triple the investment from state and farmer contributions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Climate Resilience for Farmers in Punjab, Haryana & Rajasthan.

The Climate Resilience Building Among Farmers program is an initiative introduced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to tackle the issue of climate change through crop residue management. It aims to mitigate the impacts of climate change, enhance adaptive capacity, and counter harmful environmental impacts caused by stubble burning.

The program applies to the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

The total outlay for the Climate Resilience Building Among Farmers program is Rs. 559.38 crores, out of which a sum of Rs. 100 crores would be granted in the first phase.

The primary objectives of the program are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating awareness among farmers about crop residue management, promote alternate uses of crop residue, enhance climate resilience and income of farmers through alternative usage of crop residue, and identify other related benefits and need for policy intervention.

The program will be implemented in a phased approach, initially generating awareness and undertaking capacity-building activities to encourage farmers to adopt alternate practices. It will also involve technology interventions for timely crop residue management, and the formation of implementable and sustainable entrepreneurship models in rural habitats.

In Punjab, the Department of Agriculture (DOA) and Punjab Council for Science and Technology (PCST) will implement the program. In Haryana and Rajasthan, the respective Departments of Agriculture (DOA) and Animal Husbandry (AH) will be responsible. In Uttar Pradesh, the Department of Agriculture (DOA) or the Bio-Energy Board will oversee the implementation.

The Climate Resilience Building Among Farmers program will be valid until the year 2021, after which it could be continued based on an evaluation.

The program aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance climate resilience and adaptive capacity of farmers, promote alternate uses of crop residue, diversify livelihood options, and enhance farmers' income through sustainable crop residue management practices.

The approved amount of INR 100 crores is expected to leverage approximately three times that amount, with contributions from the respective states and farmers.

Crop residue has various uses, such as animal feed, fodder, fuel, roof thatching, packaging, and composting. Cereal residues are mostly used as cattle feed, while rice straw and husk are utilized as domestic fuel or in boilers for parboiling rice in some states.