NATIONAL BANK FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL … › admin › report › 9.pdflow carbon economy with minimal use of fossil fuels. She has visited the “Alternative Products for Plastics”

NATIONAL BANK FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (NABARD)

In Association with

HEALTH AND EDUCATION ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (HEALDS)

CLIMATE CHANGE LITERACY PROGRAM - 2018

DISTRICT LEVEL WORKSHOP

VENUE : HOTEL COASTEL RESIDENCY HALL TIME : 10:30 AM

Climate change is already changing rainfall patterns, temperatures and causing previously

unknown extreme weather events. These phenomena are challenging both traditional

mechanisms for maintaining resilient livelihoods in the face of a wider set of shocks and stresses

and the effectiveness of development opportunities, resulting in increasing vulnerability. The

adverse effects of climate variations and change in terms of fluctuations in temperature,

precipitation and sea level rise has a significant bearing on the growth of developing countries,

most essentially the monsoon dependent countries like India.

National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) in association with

HEALDS conducted a district level workshop for Government officials, Bankers, NGOs and

farmers of Namakkal District on 7th August, 2018, Tuesday.

This workshop focused on approaches, methods and tools that help manage climate risks and

build resilience. The workshop also provided an opportunity to discuss the experiences of the

state government policies and bank support involving both civil society and government in

developing strategies and policies to achieve outcomes that have significance to resilience and

risk management activities in agriculture. The program stated with prayer.

Respected Namakkal District Collector and other dignitaries on the Dias

Dr.Radha Damodaram, President, HEALDS welcomed the gathering.

Honourable District Collector Thirumathi ASIA MARIYAM delivered her presidential address.

She shared her experience of visiting farmers of namakkal district and their cultivation

methodologies.The impacts of climate change such as sea levels are rising, coral reefs dying,

seasons changing and extreme weather events have been mentioned. She added that there will be

more flooding, more drought, more disease, more famine and more war, creating hundreds of

millions of refugees and causing the destruction of entire ecosystems and species and it is so

importantto minimize the amount of greenhouse gases reaching the upper atmosphere and need

low carbon economy with minimal use of fossil fuels. She has visited the “Alternative Products

for Plastics” exhibition and appreciated the people.

Hon’ble. Asia Mariyam, District Collector delivering presidential address

Dr.Geetha Lakshmi, HOD, Agronomy Department, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University delivered

her felicitation. She mentioned that our current systems are so wasteful that properly applied

energy efficiency measures could cut our overall power demand by over 50 per cent.We need to

step up our use of clean energy like wind, wave, tidal and solar energy. Equally important is a

new smart national power grid capable of integrating all these different sources.

Dr.Geetha Lakshmi delivering her special address

She also mentioned that Climate change is a big challenge for the planet, and requires action at a

large scale by all levels of government and business, but there are many things that you can do

reduce your own energy consumption and promote smart energy choices in your community.

Thiru. J.Sekhar,Joint Director, NABARD shared his views of agricultural methodologies and

government schemes for farmers. He mentioned that Government of Tamil Nadu State has

infused a comprehensive policy framework by reinforcing farmer- friendly strategies to increase

cropped area; fostering innovative crop- specific agricultural practices to improve farm

productivity and farmer’s income; designing robust infrastructure to transform the existing

livelihood farming into a commercial and dynamic farming system; mechanizing agricultural

operations to make farming smarter by saving time and cost; enriching farming knowledge and

empowering farming community through use of ICT.

He also stated that NABARD has taken various steps to develop climate resilient livelihoods for

rural areas I am happy to note that the first issue of the e-newsletter “Farm Sector in News”has

chosen climate change as the theme and would facilitate dissemination of various initiatives,

policies, programmes and projects in the climate change related areas.

Mr.Sekhar, Joint Director, NABARD, Namakkal

Mr.Mutharasu, Lead Bank Manager, Indian Bank shared information about the loan availabilities

for farmers in different ways. He stated that Agriculture finance empowers poor farmers to

increase their wealth and food production to be able to feed 9 billion people by 2050. Bank work

in agriculture finance helps clients provide market-based safety nets, and fund long-term

investments to support sustainable economic growth.

Mr.Murharasu from Indian Bank

Mr.SK Dhinesh, Assistant General Manager, NABARD, Namakkal made a presentation on

Climate Change issues at different areas of Namakkal District. In his presentation he mentioned

that Climate Change and agriculture are inseparably linked globally, both affecting and

influencing each other. Climate Change influences the crop yield and quality, fertility status of

soil and may pose a serious threat to food and nutritional security.

The challenge for Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu agriculture is to adopt to potential changes

in temperature and precipitation and to extreme events without compromising productivity and

food security. The consequences of these changes may result in a need to adopt existing

regulation with respect to environmental policy goals. Making possible of restoration of the

rivers in Tamil Nadu may solve the problems of drought.

Mr.Dinesh, AGM, NABARD presenting the issues and solutions of climate change

Dr.M S A Satish Babu, Founder Director, HEALDS addressed the gathering by sharing his

views on climate change and motivated the farmers to involve into new methodologies of

cropping. He said that in order to improve the understanding of all the meteorological parameters

effect on crop yield, individual parameters can be monitored and analyzed. Water and nutrition

management also could be undertaken to study, for better understanding of the growth pattern of

crops.

Dr.M S A Satish Babu, Secretary, HEALDS addressed the gathering

An exhibition arranged to show case the different irrigation equipments and alternative products

for plastic, for the benefit of farmers at the venue on that day. Respected collector visited and

appreciated the people who have been involved in this program.

Exhibition of irrigation equipments and alternative for plastic products

Collector visiting the alternative products for plastics

Around 150 Farmers, beneficiaries of NABARD’s Watershed Projects and representatives from

Producers promoting Institutions and NGOs attended the programme. A booklet on “Climate

Change and Agriculture” prepared by NABARD, covering the causes and effects of climate

change and the best practices in agriculture to cope up with climate change, was released and

handed over to the farmers.

More number of farmers asked many questions on climate change issues, micro irrigation,

adaptation and mitigation and sensitized how to mitigate the climate situations like rainfall

failure, extreme heat etc..They disseminated to climate change information to all the villagers of

their villages.

The theme of the workshop is challenges and opportunities of climate change for unprotected

areas. While the challenges are daunting, there ismuch that could be done and should be done in

unprotected areas to lead the way.

The following action points are drawn from the presentations and discussions over the workshop;

Actions to be taken:

Develop strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation habitat defragmentation,

work on carbon sinks

Introduce monitoring arrangements on climate change impacts

Develop public awareness programmes with local communities and visitors and exploit

education opportunities through visitor centers

Demonstrate that renewable energy technologies can be adopted sensitively in protected

areas and promote uptake

Produce guidance on sustainable construction in protected areas and emphasize energy

efficiency

Finally this workshop has emphasized the need to assess the potential effects of climate change

on council activities and has provided a framework for doing so. A key recommendation is that

councils consider climate change effects – and the additional risks and opportunities they may

bring – as part of existing planning, risk assessment and operational processes. Generally

speaking, councils can also respond to climate change effects via existing processes.

NATIONAL BANK FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (NABARD)

In Association with

HEALTH AND EDUCATION ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (HEALDS)

CLIMATE CHANGE LITERACY PROGRAM - 2018

AWARENESS PROGRAMME ON WATER MANAGEMENT AND HONEY BEE

KEEPING

VENUE : COASTEL RESIDENCY HALL TIME : 02:30 PM

HEALDS in association with National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development

(NABARD) conducted an Technical awareness program for farmers from 50 villages of

Namakkal District on 7th August, 2018, Tuesday afternoon session.

In this program Mr.P.Sivakumar,Head, Erumapatty watershed society,shared his views on

advanced strategies of Milk Society establishment and challenges while climate change. He

mentioned that the Dairy Development Department was established in 1958 in Tamil Nadu. As

per the directions of Government of Tamil Nadu, high priority has been given for improving the

performance of milk Co-operatives by adopting a systematic approach and proper strategy in

Milk Co-operatives. Significant achievement has been made by Milk Producers' Cooperative

Societies, Unions and Federation in the State of Tamil Nadu. He encouraged the villagers to start

co-operative societies at their villages

Awareness speech on Milk Societies by Mr.Sivakumar

Mr. Govindasamy, Director, UCO Trust NGO, engaged in promoting Honey bee activity across

the Namakkal district. He demonstrated the methodology of honey bee cultivation to the farmers.

He shared the information about different types of honey bee shed structures, its importance and

challenges in his presentation. He has demonstrated the types of honey bee shelters and

mentioned that when adding bees, first take the time to learn how to start a honey bee farm because it

deserves some unique considerations. Just as when adding any animal to the farm, being prepared before

the bees come home, will help you be successful. Bees will require water, sun, a sturdy hive, and during

some parts of the year, they may require feeding. It is nice to position the hive against a protected fence or

tree line if available. Bees will fly a long distance every day to find enough pollen. Grasses, trees, herbs,

flowers, and weeds all produce pollen that is used by bees to feed the hive. You don’t need to have a

flourishing flower bed in your yard, but having a varied garden will help the bees get enough food.

Mr.Govindasamy Presentation on Honey bee cultivation

Mrs.Akhila, Program Coordinator, KVK explained the NICRA projects being implemented in

the Vadavathur village. Mrs. Akhila shared the practical problems of farmers due to low rainfall

and depleted ground water level. In Vadavathur 829 families totally 2850 number of peoples are

living in which 600 families were benefited under the NICRA Scheme. A custom hiring centre

for farm implements, improving rain water harvesting structures and bring new technologies in

Agriculture, Horticulture, Livestock, Poultry and fisheries to sustain livelihood of the farmers are

the major intervention in this scheme.Mrs. Akhila also explained the natural resource

management techniques, water conservation methods and explained the concept of “Per drop

more crop”. Explained the best agriculture practices and facilities available in the KVK,

Namakkal.

Technical presentation by Mrs. Akhila, Program coordinator, KVK, Namakkal

After this presentation Dr.Radha Damodaram, President, HEALDS conducted an interactive

session for farmers to clear their doubts regarding climate change problems and to give feedback

on this program. Finally it become so useful program to the farmers of Namakkal district.

Dr.Radha Damodaram conducting interactive session

Women Farmers participating in the program

Farmers asking their Doubts

People are not only the victims of negative impacts of climate change; they are the drivers of

climate change and the essential agents for redirecting development trajectories. This

understanding of the central role of people,Social dimensions and institutions should profoundly

reshape the way in which policy makers craft and implement climate change policy.