Watershed Support Services and Activities Network

Farm ponds are decentralized rain water harvesting structures meant to enhance farmers’ water security by assuring irrigation access during dry spells. In India, they are being implemented in a big way across agro-ecological zones as a solution to man

Indian cattle genetic resources constitute an important global gene pool. A majority of these (59.3%) are still not characterized. Identifying unique populations can ensure their inclusion in national policies of improvement and conservation. The present research describes the uniqueness of three lesser-known cattle populations (Jhari, Kamma, and Vandharvi) of Deccan Plateau region of India. These are known for draught power but are on the decline due to changing socio-agricultural scenario. Comprehensive genetic diversity and differentiation analyses using 25 FAOrecommended microsatellite markers identified high variability in all three populations with mean allelic diversity (Na) ranging between 9.32-9.80. Similarly, high genetic variability was recorded in all three populations (Ho=0.67 to 0.71). Random mating in the populations was indicated by the small positive F value. A low but significant genetic differentiation, pairwise Nei’s genetic distance, phylogenetic relationship, and genetic assignment substantiated theirseparate genetic identity. The phylogenetic analysis reflected the closeness of Vandharvi and Kamma populations. Substantial gene flow was evidenced by the effective number of migrants per generation (Nm=16.31±2.69 >1). Bayesian-based clustering indicated the germplasm exchange between Vandharvi and Kamma, whereas, Jhari comes out to be a separate gene pool. None of these have suffered demographic bottlenecks in the recent past. Findings arevaluable for the scientific management, recognition, and conservation of the three populations that contribute to the livelihood, and economic sustainability of agro-pastoral communities.

Sustainability transitions are inevitable if we are to address the multiple crises in and caused by industrial agriculture. Despite the intent, there are few analyses of policy changes that enable sustainable agriculture; of the policy processes in particular. This paper analyses two cases of transition from the Union Government supported green revolution to biodiverse local and sustainable agriculture; cases of policy change evident in millet based agricultural programmes by two State Governments (Andhra Pradesh and Odisha) in India. A Laswellian in-context policy analysis reveals how the adverse social and ecological consequences of the green revolution in rainfed agriculture tracts in the country, was a key driver of these policy changes initiated by the State governments. The emergence of new and dispersed sub-national policy makers and regionally differentiated policy processes to address these consequences, mark significant institutional change. The re-definition of the policy problem by these new policy communities, led by civil society organizations and State Governments is enabled by new deliberative practices, a result of the substantive understanding of and the agency of rainfed agriculture and millets in these local agri-food systems. The new territorial identities forged within policy communities continue to confront the institutional rigidity of centralized consolidated agricultural knowledge and policy making. These decentralized policy processes and knowledge of and in the process are necessary for the transition to sustainable agri-food systems. They demand more academic and public engagement with institutional reform for sustainability.

ABSTRACT Using participatory action research methods, we co-developed climate risk management approaches with participating farmers as part of a large project in India on climate adaptation to climate change in Asia (ACCA). The key components of this work involved village level meteorological data recording and reporting, formation and development of farmer climate clubs, on-farm participatory research testing a range of sowing and irrigation practices in response to weather patterns, and preparation and dissemination of agro-meteorological advisories. This research catalysed the development of the CLimate Information Centre concept (CLIC), further evolving into the development of an ICT platform of software and hardware that integrated the ACCA project results, biweekly agro-meteorological advisory bulletins and static agronomy information. An evaluation of the CLICs was undertaken based on a survey of 330 farmers in eight CLICs villages in Telangana state in southern India. The evaluation considered aspects such as the frequency of visits to CLICs, farmer perceptions on usefulness of information, any changes in knowledge and practice due to CLICs visits, and satisfaction with the CLICs as a source of information. On average 80 percent of the surveyed farmers had visited CLICs during the period. Farmers highlighted the important contribution of the agronomy videos they watched, access to agro-meteorological bulletins, information on pests, and weather forecast information. These contributed to various types of benefits they derived including an average cost savings of US$ 4 – 64 per hectare/year. While the current version of CLICs has shown promise and relevance for small holders, they need to be further developed into small business centres that function as a knowledge and provision hub for various agriculture inputs and providing climate information as an important service. This will serve as a self-sustaining financial model for CLICs rather than climate information as the only source of information service that is currently the case.