Observing that those in the rural areas and belonging to indigenous communities show a far better climate change adaptation, Nandini Rao buttresses it by saying they possess traditional knowledge and practices compatible with the phenomenon. As climate change issue becomes graver, it is time to take a leaf out of their book and use their strategies and implement them for sustainability.
In India, people in rural areas and those from indigenous communities are leaders when it comes to combating climate change. In the first place, their lifestyle, customs, practices, beliefs and activities are environment-friendly and sustainable that don’t put any additional burden on natural resources or the environment in general.
At the same time, they are also well-versed in traditional knowledge and practices that help in climate change adaptation and mitigation and serve as knowledge base for others. Several studies and surveys have indicated that rural communities especially those engaged in agricultural activities are adept in shaping and furthering climate change adaptation locally.
Most individuals or rural families who are engaged in such activities, do so privately and not at the community level. With the increasing effect of climate change on human lives, it’s time to take these strategies and implement them at the community level to further community-based adaptation practices. There’s an urgent need for developing effective climate adaptation strategies inspired from rural India, especially for community-based adaptation, at the village level.
The understanding of these practices is gradually increasing and in India, climate change mitigation and adaptation is now focusing more on community-level interventions.
Closer to nature
Climate change is constantly putting pressure on land resources. Arable land which is already endangered due to land development, urbanisation and soil pollution is becoming scarcer due to climate change – rise in temperatures, change in rainfall pattern, etc.
Some UN estimates say that more than 40 per cent of the land in the world in already degraded. Close to two billion hectare of land and more than 1.5 billion people are impacted with changing land quality.
Sustainable farming and sustenance farming that is practised in large parts of rural India is the answer to challenges posed by climate change. Employing natural farming methods go a long way in protecting the soil. This involves the use of natural and organic materials for all activities. Chemicals are not used at all. So natural materials and products such as cow dung are used to restore soil quality and replenish it with the necessary nutrients.
Agroforestry is also used by many farmers to retain soil quality. Here, a balance of different nutrient cycles is created by growing different kinds of trees and plants along with the crops. Also, emphasis is laid on growing multiple crops rather than a single plant which is often seen in commercial agriculture. Growing multiple crops at the same time restores essential soil nutrients.
So, the process of desertification – where a fertile piece of land becomes arid and useless – is expedited due to climate change. Sustainable agricultural practices and intelligent cropping methods are slowing down desertification successfully.
Developing resilience
It’s not possible for humans to stop climate change or reverse it, at least not soon enough. But it is possible to develop climate resilience. Fortunately, several agricultural practices used by farmers in rural India are climate resilient. Ensuring food security is a major challenge today as climate change constantly threatens it. But climate resilient agricultural practices ensure there’s food security to alleviate malnutrition, hunger and poverty.
In order to adapt to climate change, it is imperative that mitigation technologies and techniques are implemented in the right manner and in the appropriate sectors. There are many aspects of climate change adaptation including water and nutrient management, growing tolerant crops, effective soil management, access to timely information, etc., that can be implemented on a larger scale.
Climate resilient agricultural practices help in achieving desired results despite the variations caused by climate change, and over a long period of time. So, for example, these practices will help ensure higher productivity of a native food crop which in turn will make sure the farmer is able to earn despite the uncertainties of climate change.
Growing tolerant crops is a very effective technique for climate change adaptation. At the same time, indigenous livestock and poultry are more resilient to climate change. They have great instincts and have been guiding their owners for ages. The local breeds have many advantages – resistance to diseases and droughts and a highly adaptive nature.
Another important aspect of climate change resilience is managing the soil well. During the cropping process, the soil often loses essential nutrients and organic matter. By using conservation methods in agriculture, the soil can be protected. These include planting cover crops, practising rotation of crops, reducing tillage, etc., to maintain the protective cover on soil.
Soil quality and nutrients are also maintained by using natural soil fertilizers such as crop residue, crop rotation using legumes for nitrogen richness, vermicompost, natural manure, etc., instead of harmful chemical fertilizers.
Saving water
Effective water management and conservation is one of the best ways to ensure climate change adaptation and resilience. In many villages across India, natural water preservation and conservation practices are in use. For example, in many villages in Maharashtra, effective water management practices have ensured they grow more than one crop in the wet season. This ensures food security and economic resilience in times of climatic uncertainty.
Water is an essential component for agriculture and for almost every activity. Climate change is endangering availability of water for agriculture, drinking and other processes. Water is used for irrigation and unavailability or paucity will threaten food security.
Climate resilience promotes adoption of smart technologies for water management and irrigation such as micro irrigation, reusing waste water, constructing rainwater harvesting structures and check dams, effective drainage management, groundwater recharge, etc. These practices mitigate the effects of climate change on water bodies and help achieve desired crop yield even when rains have been insufficient.
Developing a robust advisory system is necessary to empower those engaged in agriculture. Timely access to local weather information and advisories has helped many farmers in protecting their crops from damage. Here, technology, access to technology and education and awareness are needed for a fool-proof advisory system.
Holistic approach
Livestock are an important part of the agricultural set up in villages and adaptation in these practices is also important. To improve the efficiency of livestock production, improvement in feeding systems is recommended. This helps in reducing malnutrition, decreasing heat load, etc.
Other practices that further climate change adaptation and resilience are livelihood diversification, improved watering techniques, ecosystem conservation and use of renewable and sustainable sources of energy such as solar.
In the last few years, with increased extreme weather events, some tribal farmers in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are returning to cultivating what they would earlier. These crops are more resilient and more likely to withstand erratic rains and high temperatures, guaranteeing income to the farmer.
In February 2023, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated a 12-day mega National Tribal Festival called Aadi Mahotsav. He said that India’s tribal traditions and lifestyle offered a solution to challenges of climate change and global warming faced by the world today. He added it is their connect with and reverence for nature and its elements such as the trees, rivers, animals, etc., that makes them protect nature.
Nandini Rao is a media researcher with The History and Heritage Project – A DraftCraft International Initiative to document details, analyse facts and plug lacunae generated by oversight or to further national or foreign agenda in History and Heritage Across India and Beyond Borders.