Climate change has become one of the greatest threats to global livelihoods and food security. India is particularly vulnerable to this and is likely to have varied impacts owing to its geographic diversity, stronger dependence on agriculture, and increasing exploitation of natural resources coupled with population growth and socio-economic challenges.
In the last few decades, the water conservation ecosystem is threatened by various problems such as deforestation, urbanisation, over exploitation of resources, industrialisation, consequently leading to increasing variety of chemical pollutants and biodiversity depletion.
The resource-starved region of Bundelkhand, which includes 7 districts of Madhya Pradesh and 7 districts of Uttar Pradesh, has faced back-to-back drought years which has resulted in high water stress conditions, unsustainable farming practices, consequently resulting in farmer distress, high migration, unemployment, and poverty rate.
From decades, DA has been leading the discourse on climate resilience and ecosystem restoration that particularly focuses on integration of nature-based solutions to address the interconnected challenges of climate change, ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss, and livelihood vulnerability.
Due to global warming induced changing weather patterns, the farmers in the region need to be equipped with appropriate knowledge and skills. The three major thrust areas that DA has been working in Bundelkhand are:
Natural Resources Management
Solutions focussing on strong practice-to-policy connect with on-ground demonstration of resilient models and improved practices for land and water management such as pond rejuvenation, construction of water conservation structures, e.g., check dams, LOCO models etc.
Climate Adaptation and Resilience
Solutions focussing on climate change communication either through radio program or citizen science, enabling community to adapt to climate change by adopting nature-based solutions. We have our flagship model, a community radio station called Radio Bundelkhand 90.4 FM, established in 2008 and is the first radio station in Madhya Pradesh and second in India. It has emerged as a people’s radio station that provides them with a platform to air their aspirations, concerns and showcase their talent. It’s participatory and collaborative approach empowers and builds consensus for change. Today, Radio Bundelkhand directly covers 150 villages, reaching out to over 400,000 people in Bundelkhand and to many more through its mobile application.
Sustainable Agriculture
Solutions focussing on linking farmers especially smallholder farmers, to appropriate ecotechnologies, providing technical support, and conducting farmers training through promotion of WADI model, adoption of climate resilient farming practices, building resilient farming systems. etc.
At TARAgram Yatra 2024, Yatris will be able to:
Come, witness the real-life climate action and solutions from on-ground perspective through the lenses of the community that is adapting to these changes simultaneously.