Author: rpuri

Crop Diversification in Punjab: Challenges and Opportunities

Written by rpuri on February 17, 2025. Posted in News.

By Pardeep Kumar, BISA

Key stakeholders and representatives from Govt. of Punjab and ICAR institutions with Shri Ajit Bal Joshi, Secretary Agriculture, Govt of Punjab visiting maize hybrids fields at BISA Ludhiana station.

Crop Diversification in Punjab: Challenges and Opportunities

Agriculture has been the backbone of Punjab’s economy, making it one of India’s most agriculturally prosperous states. However, the state’s heavy reliance on traditional cropping patterns, mainly wheat and rice, has resulted in significant ecological, economic, and social challenges. Crop diversification could be the key to addressing these issues, paving the way for sustainable agricultural development.

Current Scenario in Punjab Agriculture

The Green Revolution in the 1960s transformed the state of Punjab into India’s breadbasket. The state’s agricultural growth has relied mainly on wheat and rice, significantly contributing to the country’s food grain stocks. However, the rice-wheat cropping system, though highly productive, has caused a range of environmental and other second-generation problems. These include low input-use efficiency, nutrient deficiencies, soil health deterioration, residue burning, and reduced productivity. Additionally, pesticide overuse and improper application have led to pest, disease, and weed management challenges. The rise of herbicide-resistant weed species is further threatening the sustainability of both rice and wheat production. Moreover, this mono-cropping system has caused an alarming decline in water tables due to excessive groundwater extraction for rice cultivation. The relentless cultivation of rice also depletes groundwater, with over 200,000 hectares added to rice farming in the past decade alone, further stressing the ecosystem and depleting biodiversity.

Challenges in Promoting Crop Diversification

Economic Barriers:
- Farmers’ reliance on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat and rice reduces the incentive to switch to alternative crops like maize, pulses, and oilseeds.
- Unstable markets and fluctuating prices for crops like soybean and vegetables make diversification risky.
Infrastructure Deficiencies:
- Limited storage facilities and food processing units for non-cereal crops.
- Irrigation systems are tailored for water-hungry crops (like rice and spring maize), with no pricing for groundwater, making it challenging for farmers to shift.
Knowledge and Skill Gaps:
- Limited awareness among farmers about the benefits of crop diversification.
- Insufficient training programs on modern techniques for cultivating alternative crops.
Policy and Institutional Hurdles:
- Policies are heavily skewed towards wheat and rice production.
- Delayed implementation of diversification schemes and lack of coordinated efforts among stakeholders are key bottlenecks.
Fragmentation of Landholdings:
- The average landholding size in Punjab has been decreasing, making it challenging for farmers to experiment with new crops or adopt mechanization for diversified farming.
Debt and Financial Stress:
- High levels of farmer debt, exacerbated by input-intensive farming practices, leave little financial capacity to invest in crop diversification.
Environmental Constraints:
- Continuous mono-cropping has led to a rise in pest infestations and diseases, which could also affect new crop varieties.
- Salinity issues in certain regions limit the suitability of soils for alternative crops.
Market Inefficiencies:
- Weak market linkages and inadequate price realization for perishable crops discourage farmers from diversifying beyond staples.

Opportunities for Crop Diversification

*BISA Refreshers working on maize hybrid screening*

Crop diversification presents several opportunities to improve the sustainability and profitability of Punjab’s agriculture. One key opportunity is sustainable resource use, where shifting to less water-intensive crops like maize, pulses, and millet can help mitigate water scarcity. Additionally, adopting integrated farming systems that combine crops, livestock, and agroforestry can enhance resource efficiency. Kharif maize cultivation offers another viable alternative to water-intensive rice. Maize requires significantly less water, making it well-suited for Punjab’s agro-climatic conditions. Its cultivation can help restore soil fertility through crop rotation while reducing groundwater dependency. Furthermore, the growing demand for maize in the animal feed and starch industries provides an assured market potential.

Numerous public and private agricultural research organizations have been developing sustainable and profitable cropping systems suited to local conditions for Kharif-maize-based crop diversification. Successful examples for Punjab include systems like maize-wheat-green gram, maize-potato-wheat, maize-potato-onion, and maize-potato-mentha, among others. These systems offer opportunities to replace rice and wheat, improving soil fertility and generating additional income based on regional demand.

From an economic perspective, high-value horticultural crops like fruits and vegetables provide better profit margins while encouraging organic farming and niche markets, which can open new income streams for farmers. Another benefit is improved soil and ecosystem health, as diversified cropping patterns reduce soil degradation and improve biodiversity. Crop rotation and intercropping practices naturally replenish soil nutrients, supporting long-term agricultural sustainability.

Finally, government initiatives and schemes like the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) actively support diversification efforts. Punjab’s initiatives, including crop insurance and subsidy programs, can also be leveraged to promote the adoption of alternative crops, further supporting the transition to a more diversified agricultural system.

Way Forward

Policy Reforms: Revising MSP policies to include alternative crops and ensuring timely procurement can encourage farmers to diversify.
Infrastructure Development: Establishing food processing units, storage facilities, and efficient supply chains for diversified crops.
Capacity Building: Organizing awareness campaigns, workshops, and training programs to educate farmers on sustainable practices and market opportunities.
Research and Development: Focusing on high-yield and climate-resilient varieties of alternative crops.
Public-Private Partnerships: Encouraging private investment in agri-business and value chain development.

Conclusion

Crop diversification in Punjab has become a necessity, not just an option, to ensure the state’s agricultural sustainability and resilience. The overreliance on traditional cropping systems, such as the rice-wheat rotation, has led to numerous environmental, economic, and social challenges. By addressing these issues and capitalizing on available opportunities, Punjab can transition from a resource-intensive monoculture to a diversified and sustainable agricultural system. This shift is vital for securing farmers’ livelihoods, fostering long-term agricultural health, boosting national food security, and restoring ecological balance.

Diversification offers numerous benefits, including better soil health, reduced water usage, and improved pest management. It also opens new avenues for income generation through high-value crops like fruits, vegetables, and organic produce, which can contribute to the local economy. Moreover, integrating sustainable farming practices can ensure that Punjab remains a vital agricultural hub for future generations.

In collaboration with the Government of Punjab and other key stakeholders, BISA has actively promoted and facilitated sustainable crop diversification options. These efforts focus on educating farmers, improving infrastructure, and creating robust market linkages for alternative crops. By working with farmers and industry partners, this initiative aims to create a thriving, diversified agricultural system that benefits the environment and the communities that depend on it. Through these combined efforts, Punjab can lead the way in transitioning to a more resilient and sustainable agricultural model.

Can Climate-Smart Solutions in Agriculture Address Women’s Triple Drudgery?

Written by rpuri on February 11, 2025. Posted in News.

Exploring how climate-smart solutions can reduce women’s triple burden of household labor, farm work, and caregiving—paving the way for gender-responsive adaptation in agriculture.

By Riya Gupta

Traditional gender roles often assign women the primary responsibility for preparing food and securing water and fuel. Climate-induced challenges, such as erratic rainfall and prolonged droughts, complicate these tasks, forcing women to travel greater distances to find water and firewood. In agriculture, women predominantly engage in labour-intensive activities like planting, weeding, and harvesting. Climate variability increases the unpredictability of these tasks, leading to longer working hours under strenuous conditions. As primary caregivers, women are also expected to manage household duties and childcare, roles that become increasingly demanding during climate-related crises. This cumulative burden leaves little time for rest or personal development, perpetuating cycles of poverty and gender inequality.

Implementing Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) offers promising avenues to reduce women’s labour burdens and enhance their resilience. Technologies and practices under CSA such as Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR), stress-tolerant crop varieties, early planting, zero tillage, and micro or supplementary irrigation have demonstrated potential in this regard. DSR, for instance, which eliminates the need for transplanting (task traditionally performed by women) by sowing seeds directly into the field, has shown the improvement in productivity and a decrease in drudgery for women (Khatri et al. 2020)[i]. In the case of zero tillage, a good uptake is observed amongst women farmers more than males (Adzawla et al. 2019)[ii] as it reduces the physical labour by eliminating the need for traditional ploughing.

With the evidence around the globe suggesting CSA practices and technologies benefitting women, a trend of gendered adoption persists due to regional social exclusion, norms, and practices. Therefore, addressing the intersection of climate change and gender requires a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by women in agriculture. Fostering the right enabling environment is essential to bridging this gender divide, ensuring that women have the knowledge, resources, and institutional support needed to adopt climate-smart solutions effectively.

Several studies have highlighted a diverse range of enablers to bring a parity in the adoption of CSA practices and technologies. Some key themes evolve around providing incentives to female farmers through supportive institutional policies, enhancing their skills and awareness through field trainings about farming technologies and implements, strengthening their social capital (such as self-help groups and community networks), and ensuring an easy access to different forms of credit and market. Benefits of creating right enabling environment has been highlighted by the researchers. For example, when the community women received proper agricultural training and learned how to manage their family finances, they were able to make the most of solar-powered drip irrigation in the Lombok Island of Indonesia. As a result, their harvests increased by 25%–40% within just one planting season (Siantoro et al. 2023)[iii].

Ensuring equitable resilience also demands modern tools, data-driven decision-making, and targeted interventions that empower vulnerable and marginalized groups—particularly women. In this context, the Atlas of Climate Adaptation in South Asian Agriculture (ACASA), led by BISA, is pioneering South Asia’s first climate adaptation Atlas by assessing climate change impacts on agriculture for both current and future. The project is aiming to map climate-smart technologies and practices with a gender-sensitive lens for both crops and livestock commodities in South Asia. A thorough literature review is being conducted combined with the expert judgment to validate technologies and practices for gender-suitability. A preliminary analysis of the literature shows the relation of CSA technologies and practices with the drudgery reduction for women particularly in relation to DSR, machine transplanted rice, and dual-crop varieties. This is supplemented with discussion around barriers to adoption and importance of credit, market, skilling, awareness, influence of household dynamics, decision-making on the technology adoption to reduce drudgery for women involved in farming.

Scaling such efforts is not just important—it’s necessary. Gender-responsive adaptation options must be integrated into climate strategies to ensure that CSA benefits reach those who need them the most. By reducing the time and physical labor required in agriculture, CSA has the potential to ease women’s triple burden of farm work, household chores, and caregiving. But for this to happen, technologies and practices must be designed and implemented with a gender-sensitive approach. The conversation around climate adaptation cannot ignore women’s realities. It’s time to prioritize solutions that not only improve productivity but also promote equity—because when women thrive, entire communities benefit.

[i] Khatri-Chhetri, A., Regmi, P.P., Chanana, N. et al. Potential of climate-smart agriculture in reducing women farmers’ drudgery in high climatic risk areas. Climatic Change 158, 29–42 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-018-2350-8

[ii] Adzawla, W., Azumah, S. B., Anani, P. Y., & Donkoh, S. A. (2019). Gender perspectives of climate change adaptation in two selected districts of Ghana. Heliyon, 5(11).

[iii] Siantoro, A., Purba, E. C., Agung, A. A. N., Tumewu, B., Tambunan, E., Silalahi, K., & Novita, F. (2023). Solar-powered drip irrigation managed by women farmer groups as climate change adaptation for gender equality and social inclusion in East Lombok, Indonesia. In Climate Change, Community Response and Resilience (pp. 153-173). Elsevier.

“Empowering Farmers in Bihar”: The Impact of Raised Bed Technology

Written by rpuri on January 24, 2025. Posted in News.

A Decade of Agricultural Transformation in Purnia and Katihar, Bihar

Authored By

Dr Shubham Durgude, Dr Raj Kumar Jat, Dr Pazhanisamy, Dr Suneel Kumar, Amit Kumar Lenka, Subhayan Das

A narrative of change

Over the past decade, the districts of Purnia and Katihar in Bihar have undergone a remarkable agricultural transformation. Previously recognized for their flourishing banana plantations, these regions encountered a significant challenge when the Panama Wilt disease devastated the banana crops, placing farmers in a precarious position. With bananas’ unsustainability, farmers transitioned to maize—a crop with limited familiarity. This shift initiated a journey characterized by learning, experimentation, and eventful success, bolstered by initiatives such as the Climate-Smart Village and Climate-Resilient Agriculture programs spearheaded by the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA). The incorporation of raised bed technology further revolutionized agriculture in Purnia and Katihar. What began as an obstacle evolved into a narrative of innovation, resilience, and progress.

*Panama Wilt infestation (Source: Krishi Jagran news)*

The Banana Crisis and Transition to Maize

Not long ago, bananas were the prominent crop in Purnia and Katihar. The banana plantations thrived, generating substantial income and sustaining the local economy. However, a crisis emerged when Panama Wilt, a soil-borne disease, devastated banana fields, wiping out entire plantations. Consequently, farmers were compelled to explore alternative crops, and maize emerged as a viable option. Despite their limited knowledge of maize and uncertainty regarding its economic viability, farmers opted to experiment with it. The initial years were fraught with challenges, including low yields and questions regarding hybrid selection, water requirements, and pest management. However, through perseverance, farmers began to observe positive outcomes.

*Picture: The worldwide coverage of Panama wilt (Source: FAO)*

Maize: From Novelty to Staple

A pivotal moment occurred when farmers recognized the significance of selecting appropriate hybrid varieties. They learned to choose hybrids based on factors such as maturation period and yield potential, developing expertise in matching crops to their specific fields. Even kharif rice farmers adapted their cropping systems by synchronizing shorter-duration rice hybrids with the rabi maize planting cycle, ensuring timely preparation for maize cultivation. This synchronization was not derived from textbooks but emerged from experiential learning and growing expertise. Post-harvest management practices also improved, facilitating a smoother transition between crops. Over time, maize not only replaced bananas but also became the cornerstone of the local economy. Today, many farmers view the maize harvest season as a time of celebration—not only for the financial returns but also for the economic security it affords. Families now plan weddings, secure their futures, and support their children’s education with a stable income from maize production.

Raised Bed: A Transformative Innovation A significant innovation in this journey was raised bed technology introduced by BISA, designed to enhance farming efficiency, particularly for winter maize. Raised beds optimize water delivery by directing it to the root zone, reducing wastage and improving irrigation efficiency by up to 30%. This technology proved transformative for farmers in Purnia and Katihar, where water scarcity is critical during the dry season. Raised beds also mitigated soil compaction and waterlogging, resulting in healthier crops, improved yields, and reduced costs. Farmers humorously refer to raised beds as “VIP seats” for their crops, noting the optimal conditions they provide for growth.

*BISA scientists together with farmers, with their raised bed winter maize harvest*

Expanding Horizons: How Raised Beds Paved the Way for Crop Diversification

The success of maize on raised beds cultivated on raised beds facilitated the introduction of various other crops. Vegetables such as tomatoes, brinjal, and chili flourished, benefiting from raised beds’ advantages—improved drainage, healthier root systems, and more efficient water utilization. This additional source of income diversified farmers’ risks. Intercropping with potatoes also gained popularity, allowing farmers to maximize land potential while diversifying risk. This diversification was not premeditated; it was a natural adaptation to changing conditions. Farmers survived and thrived, demonstrating that opportunities exist for those willing to innovate despite challenges.

*Potato farmers practicing intercropping with maize*

A Socioeconomic Lifeline

Maize has evolved beyond merely a crop; it has become a socioeconomic lifeline for families in Purnia and Katihar. The income generated from maize is intricately woven into their daily lives, funding education, weddings, etc. The rise of ethanol production has further expanded opportunities, granting farmers access to larger markets and better prices. Women have also assumed new roles in this transformation, taking on responsibilities in vegetable management and small business operations. Farmers often comment that their wives are now as entrepreneurs as they are agriculturists.

*Women farmers with their winter maize harvest*

Farmers with a Tech-Savvy Mindset

What renders this transformation particularly noteworthy is the farmers’ mindset. In Purnia and Katihar, technology is perceived not as a threat but as an opportunity for growth. Whether it involves selecting the right hybrid or managing raised beds with precision, farmers approach agriculture with the expertise of seasoned professionals. Their success is not solely attributed to tools or techniques but their willingness to experiment, learn from failure, and ultimately succeed. As Sakaldev, a farmer, aptly stated with a smile, “We might not have laptops, but when it comes to maize farming, our minds are more adept than any computer.”

Challenges and Future Prospects

*The joyful expressions of a farmer during the maize harvest*

The journey to success in Purnia and Katihar has not been devoid of hurdles. The initial cost of adopting raised bed technology was substantial, and access to hybrid seeds posed challenges. Mechanization remains difficult in certain areas, while knowledge gaps persist in remote villages. Nevertheless, these challenges have served as catalysts for growth. With support from BISA and programs like the Climate Resilient Agriculture Program and Climate Smart Village initiative, these challenges are being systematically addressed. This narrative transcends agriculture; it embodies resilience, adaptability, and transformation. From the decline of banana plantations to the rise of maize as a staple crop, the farmers of these districts have transformed challenges into opportunities. Raised bed technology has played a pivotal role, but the true agents of change are the farmers themselves—their determination, ingenuity, and adaptability. Today, Purnia and Katihar exemplify how small innovations and unwavering resolve can pave the way for a brighter future in agriculture.

Acknowledgments

BISA gratefully acknowledges the funding support by the Bihar government and the wholehearted participation of all partners and farmers. The editing by Prof. Arun K. Joshi, MD BISA is gratefully acknowledged.

Strengthening the Model of “Adaptation Clinic” through Data-Driven Local Level Adaptation Planning in Bangladesh

Written by rpuri on January 22, 2025. Posted in Feature.

Driving climate resilience through locally-led adaptation supported by data-driven local level agricultural planning

By Tausif Ahmed Qurashi, BRAC, Bangladesh, and Md. Abdus Salam, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Bangladesh

Bangladesh faces multifaceted climate challenges, including rising sea levels, saltwater intrusion, increasing temperatures, and erratic rainfall patterns. These factors, compounded by frequent climate-induced disasters, threaten food security, with potential crop yield declines of up to 30%. This risk is underscored by the UN World Food Program’s report, which highlights that approximately 25% of the population, largely in disaster-prone districts of Bangladesh, remains food insecure. The challenge is further intensified by 455,000 hectares of fallow land, whose cultivation is hindered by limited access to stress-tolerant technologies, irrigation, and effective extension services.

To address these pressing challenges, BRAC—a Bangladesh-based international organization renowned for its integrated development approach—has implemented innovative programs to enhance the adaptive capacities of vulnerable communities. Through its climate change program, BRAC has reached over 36,964 agricultural households and established climate-resilient farms in at-risk districts. Central to these efforts is the Adaptation Clinic model, a one-stop agricultural service center that serves over 50,000 households by providing stress-tolerant crop varieties, training, and resources to build agricultural resilience.

The Adaptation Clinic model stands out for its holistic approach. It combines locally led adaptation strategies with science-driven technologies, ensuring community acceptance and long-term sustainability. The process begins with profiling farmers at the local level, assessing their vulnerability, agro-ecological conditions, and market demands. With this information, participatory, year-round climate-adaptive agricultural plans are developed with inputs from farmers, government officers, local leaders, and sectoral stakeholders. Farmers are then trained in climate-adaptive and regenerative agriculture and provided with resources like seeds, bio-pesticides, rental machinery services, and soil-testing facilities.

BRAC’s commitment to creating open and inclusive community spaces is reflected in its co-creation approach, making Adaptation Clinics accessible and participatory. Farmer groups, trained and equipped as change agents, help transform agricultural practices in their regions.

In its mission to strengthen the Adaptation Clinic model, BRAC has partnered with BISA-led ACASA to leverage its cutting-edge climate data platform. This collaboration enables Upazila (sub-district) level data analysis and mapping, providing precise insights for planning and decision-making. The ACASA platform is instrumental in training officials and stakeholders on its application, ensuring the integration of data-driven solutions into local adaptation strategies.

Together, BRAC, BARC, and ACASA aim to create informed, localized agricultural adaptation plans that align with broader Upazila development strategies. This alignment will streamline efforts to bolster the resilience of farming communities, enhance productivity, and mitigate climate risks.

The synergy between BRAC’s grassroots outreach and ACASA’s scientific insights exemplifies the potential of collaborative, data-driven approaches to climate adaptation. By empowering communities and fostering cross-sectoral partnerships, this initiative not only strengthens resilience in Bangladesh’s agricultural sector but also serves as a scalable model for other climate-vulnerable regions. Through the Adaptation Clinic model, BRAC and ACASA are creating pathways to sustainable livelihoods and food security in the face of evolving climate challenges.