A POSTER IN DHAKA METRO

Family Farmers world wide can play a crucial role in ending hunger: UN Ban Ki-moon

• Family Farmers are key to unlocking global progress • Preserve natural resources and agro biodiversity • Cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable agriculture and food

system

Homestead farming: A bio-diversified system to enhance resiliency in

the era of climate vulnerability

Jitendra Kumar Sundaray A. Bhattacharya, A G Ponniah, T K Ghoshal, A. D Deo, J P Sharma, M Phillips1

ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, India 1 Worldfish Penang, Malaysia

Outline of the presentation • Background

– Current challenges

– Profound impact of climate change in Agriculture

– Locally adapted mitigating measure

– Advantage of HFS over other farming system

• Research objective and methodology

• Result & Discussion

– Impact of climate change on livelihood

– Feature of HFS

– Seasonal calendar of HFS

– Biodiversity in HFS

– Impact of Biodiversity on rural economy

– HFS and Food Security

• Way forward

• Conclusion & Recommendation

Current challenges

Tidal surges & Coastal erosion: Inundation of land High Salinity: Average salinity reached up to 10 PPT Disease infection: Vast spreading of water borne diseases Low agricultural productivity: An average of 2.3 ton/ha

(District Statistical Handbook, 2009)

Poverty Food & nutrition insecurity

Profound impact of climate change

Non-access of healthy & sufficient food

Reduce crop yield

54% malnourished children

39% lower paddy production against national average

Changes in water quality

58% HH unable to access safe drinking water

Erosion of beaches

47.5% households are landless

Traditional farming system containing high level of species diversity & practiced since long back in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nigeria etc.

HFS

Resource rich

Small scale

Bio-diversified

Integrated system

Increase productivity

Resource recycling

Locally adapted mitigating measure

Financial solvency

Food &

nutrition security

Particulars

Homestead farming System

Other farming System

Advantage of HFS over other farming system

To assess the extent of HFS in providing resiliency against the current challenges due to climate vulnerability.

Research Objective & Methodology

Selection of study area (depending on the need of the study)

Collection of secondary data (from local level govt. bodies)

Selection of farmers through randomization

Interviewing the farmers

(480 households)

Methodology

Objective

9

Study area

India West Bengal

South 24 Pargana

Kakdwip

Namkhana

Sagar

North 24 Pargana

Soil erosion & inundation of

land with saline water reached

salinity up to 25 ppt

Agricultural land is reduced

by 21% with low

productivity (2.3 ton/ha)

Small & marginal farmers

contribute 99% household

Practice of seasonal

migration.

Engagement of agriculture &

related activities is

reduced by 17%

Non-agricultural

activities involve 67% households

Impact of climate change on livelihood

Soil salinization (N 210 45.258' E 880 16.520’)

Engagement in non-agricultural

activities

Pictorial view of challenges

Low production

Crop damage

Features of homestead farms

Horticulture/ Agroforestry (37% land)

Aquaculture

Animal husbandry (13% land) Homestead

Farming System

Food,

Spices, Timber,

Fodder, Fuel Fish

Poultry &

Dairy

products

• Average homestead land area is 0.1 ha. • All components together enriched biodiversity of the system.

(50% land)

Fish culture

Cultivation of perennial crops

Livestock & poultry rearing

Cultivation of winter veg.

Cultivation of summer veg.

Stocking of fish

Seasonal calendar of HFS activities

HFS provides diversified products through year round activities

Biodiversity in HFS

Components Economic products % of total species of each component

Crops (Horticulture/ agro-forestry)

Food items (vegetable and fruit)

76

Spices 12

Timber 10

Medicinal 12

Fodder/Firewood 5

Others (Ornamental, cash crops etc.)

5

Aquaculture Fish 92

Shrimp/Prawn 8

Animal husbandry

Poultry products 40

Livestock products (meat) 60

The greater crop diversity and mixed farming offer a considerable protection against farming risk due to climatic changes

Species composition in HFS (dominant sps.)

All together 42 crop species, 38 aquaculture species and 5 animal species were encountered in HFS

Locally-adapted species are highly resistant to

adverse conditions

Short duration diversified crops provide

benefits within few month

Resource integration enhance

farm processes

Increase productivity

HFS resulted 39% enhancement of the gross income of the

national average of BPL households.

Impact of biodiversity on rural economy

Income increased

Relation of HFS with food & nutrition security

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Energy Protein Fat

% o

f re

qu

ire

d n

utr

itio

n

Animalhusbandry

Horticulture

Aquaculture

Total production in HFS Marketing 27%

Consumption 73%

Species diversity supports dietary

diversity and nutritional

security

Nutrition intake from HFS

The products also contain high value of micronutrients such as vitamins & minerals which reduce the risk of a long list of ailments.

Way forward

Practice farming of more salt tolerant and climate resilient crops like fish species, Pacu, fruit varieties like banana, guava, sapotta etc.

Culture of brackishwater species in homestead pond such as Scatophagus argus (spotted scat), Etroplus suratensis (pearl spot), Mystus gulio (Tangra) etc.

Integration of more resources with innovative technology

Enhance the practice of betel vine which plays as a buffer against economical loss & short-term coping measure which give long-term relieve to the farmers.

Conclusion

This diversified system has enormous potential to enhance the resilience in the nutritional & the economic insecurity of rural poor.

7/1/2014 CPWF WORKSHOP 20

Recommendation

Institutional assistance: Provide quality input in subsidised rate to the farmers & make a proper marketing channel Govt. Policy: Required for formation of synergy between the indigenous and modern technologies for effective implementation in the farmers’ field Recognition: As an organised farming system for micro/macro financial support Need : Skill and awareness development on HFS and connectivity among all stakeholders Integration: Program taken by UN and MSSRF, India for family farming

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