New Delhi, Nov 24, : , The International Fund for Agricultural Development(IFAD), SAARC Agriculture Centre/SAC, International Food Policy Research Institute IFPRI and SAARC Development Fund have formed a partnership to scale up climate smart agriculture in South Asia. The partnership’s central objective is to create evidence-based strategies that collectively address the impacts of climate change in South Asia.
Agriculture has been historically a risky business.Climate change and its associated impacts to agri-food systems is making it more risky.
One estimate suggests that the region could lose between 10-50 percent of its crop production due to global warming.The sector remains the main source for livelihood for more than 50% of South Asia’s population.
This reality requires that adaptation and mitigation strategies to climate change be integrated with the overarching goal to ensure food, nutrition, and livelihood security for millions underprivileged and marginalised residents of the region.
The partnership will promote sustainable and resilient agriculture intensification in South Asia by strengthening institutions and skills and scaling up climate smart strategies.
“The agreement will strengthen IFAD’s partnership with SAARC in order to work together to improve food security and to benefit smallholder farming in the region,” stated Abdelkarim Sma (Lead Regional Economist, IFAD).
Sma said that the project will examine climate-smart agricultural technologies and practices in the contexts of farming systems that incorporate benefits for adaptation, nutrition and women and youth.
The initial pilot investment of $3.1 million was made by IFAD and SAC to fund the consortium.
According to the partner organizations, the investment volume will increase in the future.
The SAARC Agricultural Centre will support and promote regional cooperation between SAARC Member States (SMS), in order to foster sustainable and resilient agricultural adaptations in South Asia.
Cross-border cooperation between South Asian agricultural research and extension systems has been largely constrained by a lack of capacity.
“This multi-country project, which was launched at a time that climate change has emerged in the agricultural landscape, is the first of its type in the region,” stated Esala Ruwan, Secretary General of SAARC.
“Given the stakes, the SAARC Agriculture Centre took this far-reaching initiative in order to promote sustainable and resilient agricultural intensification in South Asia,” Weerakoon said.
While there are many agricultural policies in South Asia, climate change adaptation and mitigation is not being given the attention it deserves.
Despite the existence of national adaptation plans for agricultural development, they are often not implemented due to the absence evidence-based strategic investments plans.
A comprehensive mapping exercise will be done at the regional level to assess the impact of climate changes.
This will allow for the identification of agro-ecosystems and cross-disseminate viable technologies that will accelerate the dissemination of current national research efforts.
The project will benefit smallholders, with a particular focus on women farmers.
It will also benefit researchers, extension workers and policy makers in SAARC member states.Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and India will be the primary focus for piloting and scaling-up CSA technologies.
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