Climate Smart AgricultureClimate Smart AgricultureClimate Smart AgricultureClimate Smart AgricultureBuilding Resilience through Organic Techniques

Dr.Thimmaiah

Advisor

National Organic Program

Ministry of Agriculture and Forests

Royal Govt. of Bhutan

drathimmaiah@gmail.com

© Thimmaiah 2011

� Introduction

� Agriculture in Bhutan and Climate change

� Climate smart agriculture & Organic Agril. � Climate smart agriculture & Organic Agril. Approaches for adaptation and mitigation

- C sequestration and SOM

- Sustainable solutions for reducing GHG

- Traditional knowledge

- Capacity Building

�Way forward

Agriculture

�� Over 70% population Over 70% population –– farming & employs 56%farming & employs 56%

�� Average land holding Average land holding –– 0.8 0.8 Ha per HHHa per HH

�� Farming Farming –– Subsistence, Subsistence, RainfedRainfed

�� PovertyPoverty-- rural communities (90% of total)rural communities (90% of total)

�� Difficult terrain, landslides, flash floods, landslipsDifficult terrain, landslides, flash floods, landslips

�� Food Food Security Security

�� Vulnerable to Climate changeVulnerable to Climate change

� loss of crops to unusual outbreaks of pest & diseases

� erratic rainfalls, windstorms, droughts and flash

floods/landslides are increasing annuallyfloods/landslides are increasing annually

� 1996- rice blast epidemic – 80-90% crop loss

� 2007- corn blight disease in maize – 50% crop loss

� 2008 – Windstorm resulted in crop loss of 320 HH

� Agriculture contributes to GHG’s

� Shifting Cultivation*

� Land use change*

* Policies to discourage such practices are in place

Modern farming practices

Contributes to global warming (15% GHG’s)

% GHG from Modern Agriculture

Soil N2O (40%)

Enteric ferm. CH4 (27%)Enteric ferm. CH4 (27%)

Rice - CH4 (10%)

Energy CO2 (9%)

Manure mgt. (7%)

Others CH4, N2O (6%)

� Crude oil dependant

� Simplified agricultural systems

� Reduce diversity

� Industrial agriculture (homogenous)

� Change of land use� Change of land use

– soybean for cattle feed

- bio-fuels

- resource driven to demand driven livestock production

Sustained production = sustainable agro-ecosystem

Problem to the Solution

Solution to the Problem

Modern agriculture (Uglyculture)

TOTO

Climate friendly Agriculture

Buddhism

Living with Nature:A sustainable way of utilizing the natural

resources

The Four

Friends

� climate challenges of food security, climate adaptation and mitigation in an integrated way rather in isolation.

� sustainably increase - agril. productivity, agro-ecosystem resilience .

� reduce GHG emission & facilitate C capture from agriculture.

� enhance the achievement of national food security and development goals.

� Gross national happiness (GNH) paradigm of development.

� Farming System Approach that fosters sustainable agril. environment

� Builds resilience in farming practices

- reduced dependency on external inputs

- diversification of crops

� Fosters Adaptive capacity of communities and empowers them

� Reduces vulnerability to wide range of climate change hazards

� Self sustaining, socially and ecologically superior over conventional

farming.

� Cost effective management practices involving the use of on-farm

inputs.

Transformations in the management of

� Soil

�Water

� Landscapes

� Pro-poor & low-cost technologies � Pro-poor & low-cost technologies

�Genetic resources

� Enabling environment

to ensure sustainable higher productivity and

resilience while reducing the carbon footprint

“......soil carbon sequestration represents 89% of agriculture’s mitigation potential & therefore international efforts should concentrate on the possibilities to make better use of this potential....”

FAO

Soil can storeSoil can store- 3 times more C than atmosphere

- 5 times as much as forests

60% of the soil C is in the form of SOM

According to some estimates, soils under eco-friendly farm practices can sequester 14% of the current annual CO2 emission.

Research shows that Organic agriculture Systems use Watermore efficiently

Volume of Water Retained /ha (to 30 cm) in relation to

Soil organic matter (SOM)

0.5% OM = 80,000 litres0.5% OM = 80,000 litres

1 % OM = 160,000 litres

2 % OM = 320,000 litres

3 % OM = 480,000 litres

4 % OM = 640,000 litres

5 % OM = 800,000 litres

Morris, 2004

World soil conditions

Soils are becoming degraded in many regions.

Global soil conditions

(Map from USAID)> 3 billion people affected

Global Micronutrient Global Micronutrient

DeficienciesDeficiencies

How to enhance SOM ?

1. Green Manures

Sun hemp

Daincha

Cowpea

Mulching

Saves 40% water – preventing evaporation

30% water – absorbing moisture in the night

20% water – live mulching (inter crops)20% water – live mulching (inter crops)

Area under irrigation can be increased by 10 times

Minimum Till without Herbicides

Photos : Andre leu, 2010

Composting

Animal manure managementPreparation of soil & plant activators

Biodigestor

Multiple cropping

Crop Rotation

Inter-cropping

Companion PlantingCompanion Planting

Alley Cropping

Relay Cropping

Rice cultivation

Contributes about 10% GHG

System of Rice Intensification (SRI)-SRI

SRI

SRI Conventional

Soil & Seed Savers

SRI SRI

System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

In Madagascar, SRI has increased yields from the usual 2-3 tons per

hectare to yields of 6,8 or 10 tons per hectare.

Source: Nicolas Parrott, Cardiff University, 'The Real Green Revolution‘

System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

Cuba – Two rice plants the same age and same variety

Norman Uphoff, Cornell University

After typhoon, After typhoon, farmer in farmer in DôngDông TrùTrù

village, Hanoi Province, Viet Namvillage, Hanoi Province, Viet Nam

Norman Uphoff, Cornell University

Eco- Intensification in Rice Cultivation

Azolla multiplication in the paddy field

Azolla introduction in the paddy field

Azolla

Blue green algae (BGA)

Azolla multiplication in the paddy field

Azolla introduction in the paddy field

Pesticides also contribute to Climate Change

• 99% of the insects

are beneficial and

1% are pests

• Farming system

promotes

Predator- Prey

relationship

Pesticide free Pest Management

Cultural methods

– Crop rotation

– Trap crops

– Intercropping

– Use of resistant/tolerant varieties

Biological approaches

• Botanicals

• Bio-pesticides

• Bio-control by insects

• Bio-rationals

Indigenous Knowledge & Science

Light trap

Bird Perch

Bio-plant extract

Yellow sticky trap

Egg parasitoid Source: Annadana

Heirloom seeds

Land races

Native seeds

Traditional seeds

Folk seeds

Tomato varieties

s varieties

Diversity of cucurbits Diversity of CapsicumDiversity of cucurbits

Diversity of Tomatoes

Diversity of Capsicum

Soil & Seed Savers

Annadana

Pumpkin and Zucchini

� Insurance for the small scale farmers

� Adapted to small scale farming.

� Polygenic resistance to pest and diseases� Polygenic resistance to pest and diseases

� More micro nutrients which combat malnutrition and micro nutrient deficiency

� Home gardening

-holistic and ecological approach to increase and manage biodiversity - increase beneficial organisms

- use of insect attracting plants, hedge rows, cover crops, and water reservoirs

- insects, spiders, amphibians, reptiles, bats, and birds - insects, spiders, amphibians, reptiles, bats, and birds help parasitization or predation

- Insect attracting plants – rye and mustard

- beneficial insects – “mini livestock”

Pest and their respective deterrent plants

Pests Pest deterrent plants

Ants Mint, pansy, pennyroyal

Aphids Mint, garlic, chives, coriander,

anise

Bean Leaf Beetle Potato, onion, turnip

Cucumber Beetle Radish, pansy

Flea Beetle Garlic, onion, mint

Cabbage Worm Mint, sage, rosemary,Cabbage Worm Mint, sage, rosemary,

Leaf Hopper Geranium, petunia

Mice Onion

Root Knot Nematodes Marigolds

Slugs Rosemary

Spider Mites Onion, garlic, cloves, chives

Squash Bug, Stink bug Radish, marigolds

Thrips Marigolds

Whitefly Marigolds, nasturtium

Diversification of local dietary habits

Education and awareness

School Agriculture Program (SAP)

Capacity building

Pro- poor Marketing strategies

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and Marketing

CSA and organic techniques can be used for a shift from Subsistence

farming TO Commercial or cash crop production

Understanding the market requirements is very important otherwise

can be a limitation for CSA.can be a limitation for CSA.

Examples of markets limiting CSA:

- Consumers do not want to buy new varieties of vegetables with

slight different appearance or taste.

- Retailers/wholesalers prescribe use of chemicals, varieties to be

sowed, etc. to farmers (e.g. supermarket chains in the West).

Title 63

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and Marketing

Examples of markets supporting CSA:

- Increasing demand for organic, healthy foods among many consumers world wide

- Affluent consumers want more exotic products (e.g. Bhutan exports its traditional red rice to the

- Affluent consumers want more exotic products (e.g. Bhutan exports its traditional red rice to the USA)

- Retail chains and companies want to improve image, increase profits (e.g. in Cambodia SRI rice is sold as a speciality rice), realise the opportunity of cost-savings.

Example of CSA & marketing in Bhutan

• National Organic Programme is training agricultural extension agents and stakeholders

• These extension agents are training up to 60 farmer groups under the Market Access & Growth Intensification Project in Eastern Bhutan to produce vegetables.in Eastern Bhutan to produce vegetables.

• SNV Bhutan is supporting the marketing of these (off season) vegetables to Assam, India: Bhutanese vegetables have a good image in Assam for being healthy and chemical free. The price is also slightly higher compared to the price of vegetables supplied to Assam from other areas in India.

Need of the hour

Convergence of CSA

&

Appropriate Marketing Strategies Appropriate Marketing Strategies

Title 66

Human – knowledge of Climate risks, sustainable agriculture skills

Social- Farmers Organizations, Women’s SHG, PC

Physical- Infrastructure for irrigation, Seed/grain storage facilities

Natural – Reliable water source, Productive landNatural – Reliable water source, Productive land

Financial – Micro-insurance, diversified income sources

World’s poorest are the most vulnerable to Climate change.

Reason : Limited access to the above resources.

� Bhutan and Himalayan region is vulnerable.

� CSA through Organic technologies is a solution to the problem: contributing to both adaptation and mitigation.

� High Yields, Sustainability and Climate Resilience are achieved by: Adequate SOM, Eco-intensification & GAP

� Scientific research has shown - Organic agril. systems can ameliorate Climate ChangeClimate Change

� CSA is knowledge intensive than input intensive & warrants high degree of expertise and capacity building for sustainable impact.

� Enhances livelihood resilience of rural poor

� Diversification of crops & dietary habits

� CSA befits GNH paradigm of development for Bhutan.

Climate Smart AgricultureBio-pesticides are the preparations made from locally availableplants and animal wastes and used for managing pest and diseases. OftenBuilding Resilience through Organic TechniquesComposting traps carbon, increases soil fertility andreduces Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. Unlike chemicalfertilisers which contribute to GHG emissions at every stage(production, transportation and application).based on traditional knowledge like, Gso-ba Rigpa (traditional Bhutanesemedicine). Contrary to the synthetic chemical pesticides, bio-pesticides aresafe for soil, and the health of humans as well as animals. Chemicalpesticides emit GHGs, destroy biodiversity and pollute the environment.Mulching is a process of covering the soil with bio-mass. Itreduces evaporation from the soil. It helps to adapt to droughts dueto the changing weather conditions. It also is ideal for mountainagriculture and rainfed farming systems.Water conservation. Organic farming increases the soil organicmatter resulting in conservation of soil. Studies reveal that every 0.5%increase in soil organic matter conserves 80,000 litres of water per hectare.A lot can be won by harvesting natural water through simple local techniqueslike check dams, farm ponds, tree planting around water sources, agro-forestry,and irrigation at critical moments of the plant growth cycle.Farmscaping is a smart and holistic approach to integrate various ecologicalMulti-cropping reduces risks compared to mono-cropping. A variety of cropsreduces the risk of pests and diseases, which are likely to increase with climate change.Diversified income increases resilience of communities to unpredictable weatherconditions. It also adds to the quality and nutritional value of food.parameters to adapt and mitigate climate change. For instance certain plants fixatmospheric nitrogen and sequester carbon which avoids the use of chemical fertilizers.Other plants attract beneficial insects like pollinators, parasites and predators which canrepress pests and diseases, likely to occur due to changing weather patterns. Farmscapingcan also increase crop yields, strengthening rural livelihoods.SNV supports small farmers to engage in sustainable agriculture and prepare for climate change impacts.SNV often integrates this with pro-poor marketing strategies: supporting farmers with increased cash income also decreases vulnerability.Efficient water management technologies like drip irrigation, drought resistant varieties but also organic agriculture, SRI (System of Rice Intensification)and other ‘alternative’ approaches will strengthen climate smart agriculture in Bhutan.

Climate Smart AgricultureBuilding Resilience through Organic Techniques

Climate Smart AgricultureBio-pesticides are the preparations made from locally availableplants and animal wastes and used for managing pest and diseases. OftenBuilding Resilience through Organic TechniquesComposting traps carbon, increases soil fertility andreduces Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. Unlike chemicalfertilisers which contribute to GHG emissions at every stage(production, transportation and application).based on traditional knowledge like, Gso-ba Rigpa (traditional Bhutanesemedicine). Contrary to the synthetic chemical pesticides, bio-pesticides aresafe for soil, and the health of humans as well as animals. Chemicalpesticides emit GHGs, destroy biodiversity and pollute the environment.Mulching is a process of covering the soil with bio-mass. Itreduces evaporation from the soil. It helps to adapt to droughts dueto the changing weather conditions. It also is ideal for mountainagriculture and rainfed farming systems.Water conservation. Organic farming increases the soil organicmatter resulting in conservation of soil. Studies reveal that every 0.5%increase in soil organic matter conserves 80,000 litres of water per hectare.A lot can be won by harvesting natural water through simple local techniqueslike check dams, farm ponds, tree planting around water sources, agro-forestry,and irrigation at critical moments of the plant growth cycle.Farmscaping is a smart and holistic approach to integrate various ecologicalMulti-cropping reduces risks compared to mono-cropping. A variety of cropsreduces the risk of pests and diseases, which are likely to increase with climate change.Diversified income increases resilience of communities to unpredictable weatherconditions. It also adds to the quality and nutritional value of food.parameters to adapt and mitigate climate change. For instance certain plants fixatmospheric nitrogen and sequester carbon which avoids the use of chemical fertilizers.Other plants attract beneficial insects like pollinators, parasites and predators which canrepress pests and diseases, likely to occur due to changing weather patterns. Farmscapingcan also increase crop yields, strengthening rural livelihoods.SNV supports small farmers to engage in sustainable agriculture and prepare for climate change impacts.SNV often integrates this with pro-poor marketing strategies: supporting farmers with increased cash income also decreases vulnerability.Efficient water management technologies like drip irrigation, drought resistant varieties but also organic agriculture, SRI (System of Rice Intensification)and other ‘alternative’ approaches will strengthen climate smart agriculture in Bhutan.

Thank You