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Welcome to the International Conference on

Strengthening Climate Justice Initiatives:

Focus on Farmers

Kirit Shelat et al NCCSD

NCCSD India 8 November 2014 NIRMA University

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Objective of the deliberations: Strengthen the call

to reduce Climate burdens faced by farmers in particularthrough a Climate Justice perspective

1. Highlight– The Legal basis of Climate Justice – Approaches to ensure

• Timely delivery of Justice embedded in Comprehensive framework of sustainable development.

• Special focus on marginalized and affected farmers– Cross cutting impacts – Precautionary approaches – Inclusive public policies

2. Hear the voices of farmers – Demonstrate inclusiveness in deliberations through their participation – Define opportunities to establish veracity of their observations to strengthen scientific

temper. NCCSD India 8 November 2014 NIRMA University

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The Contours of justice & the need for farmer focus

• Facets of justice – Fairness, moral rightness and a scheme or system of law that benefits every citizen. – Natural and legal rights.

• Farmer focus : Go beyond piece meal solutions– Highly vulnerable and need speedy justice– Have to tackle cross cutting consequences of Inclement weather and markets, adaptation by

crops, diseases, post – harvest management – Need

• Locally adapted and inclusive knowledge systems – Build on their understanding – Empowers them to access emerging knowledge

» Livelihood opportunities with livestock, fisheries, land and water management, bio resources conservation

– Viable and locally feasible Climate smart practices that are not “re – packaged & redundant”

– Overcome drudgery & – Establish other enabling circumstances including infrastructure, crop insurance,

food security, alternative livelihoods, soil / water / bio resources augmentation & multiple safety nets

NCCSD India 8 November 2014 NIRMA University

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Some Important leads

• Anand Agricultural University for Gujarat

• 3°C increase could reduce–CERES-Peanut

(Groundnut) yield by 31.2% / yr. –CERES-Wheat by

about 44% / yr.

Across India as a whole • Drought in 2002 reduced 15 million hectares of

the rainy-season crops - loss of > 10% in food grain production.

• 2013 delayed monsoon rains caused a fall in rice cultivation.

• Terminal heat stress is lowering yields of late-sown wheat yields and cold waves during December 2002-January 2003 significantly affected mustard, mango, guava, papaya, brinjal, tomato and potato in northern India.

• Cold wave in 2006 damaged 50-60 % of young and 20-50 % old mango trees.

• Heat waves – Nearly 20 lakh birds perished in June

2003. – Can reduce a milk yield by 10-30% in first

lactation and 5-20% in second and third lactation periods in cattle and buffaloes.

NCCSD India 8 November 2014 NIRMA University

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Small farmers stare at big losses

• Monsoon delay has pushed 20 of the 75 districts in UP to the brink of drought.

• Worst-hit are in Meerut, Kanpur and Varansi, where dry spell has damaged paddy.

• Unusual rain has harmed crops in parts of Bankura, Purulia and East Midnapore in Bengal

• Large-scale flooding, after heavy rains affected 23 districts in Odisha and entire regions of Kashmir. Source: Economic Times, 7 September, 2014

NCCSD India 8 November 2014 NIRMA University

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The centrality of the farmer & The Indian perspective to tackle challenges

• Important challenges (amongst otehrs) persist. – Approximately 20% people left out of the food

security and employment guarantee schemes. – Safety nets dealing with inputs and marketing are

riddled with leakages. – Delay in insurance payments – Town planning does not emphasize grazing areas

adequately

NCCSD India 8 November 2014 NIRMA University

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Call for action at the local level

1. Local level public Administration including Sub judicial Magistrate, Taluka Magistrate and Mamlatdar, the Taluka Development Officer and the Police Inspector, Commercial and co-operative banks, the Agriculture Produce Market Committee yard (APMC) ,the Input dealers related to seeds, fertilizer and agriculture tool and equipments have to be sensitized

2. The Sarpanch could visit the farms and help redress. 3. Integrated and locally adapted / feasible CSA practices should

cover agriculture, fisheries, poultry, other livestock and animal husbandry.

4. Twin Mitigation and adaptation strategies for optimal returns.

NCCSD India 8 November 2014 NIRMA University

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The way forward

The Climate justice perspective should address six inter related aspects. 1. Legal and administrative framework / provisions farmers can invoke for

redressal and thrust responsibilities for related impacts2. Safety-nets for affected families & Expedite delivery of services 3. Economic Inequities and system related barriers faced by farmers 4. Systems of warning and weather forecasts / agro-advisories and appropriate

practices to tackle challenges that may occur a) Prior tob) During cultivation & c) Post – harvest periods

5. Robust science & technology communication strategies: Bottom up 6. Accountability of industry, urban / peri urban areas including such

infrastructure projects as power generation, ports, mining etc that generate these externalities. NCCSD India 8 November 2014

NIRMA University