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Indian Sustainable Agriculture Projects on Global Centre Stage

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Two sustainable agriculture projects, one led by a farmer’s collective and supported by an NGO, and the other, an individual scientist have won the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity 2024.

In the first case, Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) received the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity for contributing to natural farming and sustainable agriculture, and community development.

The reward is in recognition of APCMNF’s contribution to global food security, climate resilience, and ecosystem protection.

APCNF:

APCNF supports smallholder farmers to switch from chemically intensive agriculture to natural farming, through practices such as using organic residues and minimizing tillage to improve soil health; reintroducing indigenous seeds; and diversifying crops, including trees.

The initiative was launched by Andhra Pradesh Government to find a sustainable solution to farmer distress caused by economic crises in agriculture and climate change. Implemented by non-profit organization Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS) (‘Farmers Empowerment Cooperation’), it is recognized as the world’s largest agroecology program. It now reaches over a million smallholder farmers, predominantly women, across 500,000 hectares in the state.

According to a press release, the program has generated environmental and social benefits including greater soil carbon sequestration, reversed land degradation, reduced soil temperatures, increased biodiversity.

The four levers of success:

APCNF initiative’s success relies on four levers:

• Delivery through an established network of women collectives
• Farmer-to-farmer learning via ‘Champion Farmers’
• Progressive technology
• Government ownership

The program aims to reach all eight million farmer households in Andhra Pradesh over the next 10 years and inspire replication elsewhere. The model is already being incubated across 12 states in India, and in 2024 will be introduced in five other Global South countries, adapted to local contexts.

Dr Rattan Lal:

The second award recipient, Dr Rattan Lal is a globally renowned soil scientist.

He pioneered a soil-centric approach that harmonizes food production with ecological preservation and climate change mitigation.

His methodologies have highlighted on a on a global stage the interconnectedness of soil health and broader environmental and human wellbeing, and the importance of enhancing food security while conserving natural resources.

By promoting research and education in sustainable soil management, Dr Lal has advanced understanding of sustainable agriculture and climate resilience.

SDGs:

Food is central to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations’ development agenda for the 21st century.

The second of the 17 SDGs aims to “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.” Reaching this goal by the target date of 2030 necessitates international collaboration for a sustainable transformation of the global food and agriculture system.

Jury notes:

Dr. Angela Merkel, President of the Jury, who announced the awards, said, “Access to high-quality food is of existential importance to everyone. Climate change and the resulting global warming have led to an increase in extreme weather events and are endangering food security around the world. This presents everyone engaged in the agriculture sphere with particular challenges. This year’s winners have demonstrated in an exemplary fashion how climate-resilient and sustainable food systems can be developed and put into practice.”

António Feijó, President of the Board of Trustees of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation said, “… Each winner has demonstrated exceptional commitment to transforming agricultural practices, proving that sustainable models can thrive in diverse and challenging environments. Their work also demonstrates the co-benefits of sustainable agriculture for communities as well as the planet. We believe their stories will inspire others to apply similar approaches in other regions and help us build a sustainable future for all.”


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Maharashtra Govt. Promotes Sustainable Agriculture, EVs in Budget 2024-25

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The Maharashtra government has announced plans to promote sustainable agriculture, EVs, and women’s participation in various aspects of life.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced plans to provide farmers with free electricity generation from solar pumps in Maharashtra. The state will construct 8.5 lakh solar pumps, aiming to encourage renewable energy use and reduce electricity costs. The Jal Yukta Shivar Yojana project will also be funded by a Rs 650 crore budget. The government also plans to solarize all irrigation schemes.

The state aims to provide Rs 80 crore in financial assistance to 10,000 women aged 18-35 in 17 cities to purchase e-rickshaws. Besides, the government launched the PM e-Busses program in 19 municipal corporations.

It must be noted that the state government last year announced its plans to raise Rs 5,000 crore in green bonds by 2024 for renewable energy, green buildings, green hydrogen, electric mobility, and charging facilities. It also set up the Maharashtra Green Finance Working Committee (MGFWC) will raise Rs 5,000 crore to fight climate change.


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New Forum to Address Climate Resilient Agrifood Systems in India

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An investment forum for advancing climate-resilient agri-food systems in India has been launched to advance sustainable agriculture practices. 

The forum comprises NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW), and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). 

According to an official statement, the forum aims to develop an investment and partnership among the government, private sectors, farmers’ organizations, and financial institutions in India.

Ramesh Chand, NITI Aayog Member, highlighted agriculture’s role in climate change, contributing over 13% of India’s greenhouse gas emissions. He suggested tree plantation for carbon sequestration and new economic analysis in his keynote address.

Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of MoA&FW, emphasized the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach in tackling climate challenges in India, particularly considering the perspectives of small and marginal farmers.

UN Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp emphasized the urgent need for climate resilience investments in agriculture to address the food crisis. She said that without a financial solution, future generations will lack resources.


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NABARD and UNDP India join hands for innovations in agriculture

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NABARD and UNDP India join hands for innovations in agriculture

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to co-create data-driven innovations in agriculture and food systems agriculture to support smallholder farmers.

The partnership aims at enhancing and disseminating collaborative digital public goods like DiCRA (Data in Climate Resilient Agriculture)

Under the MoU, the organisations will work to improve the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers by sharing open-source data for product development, transfer of technology and supporting the framing of agrarian policies, NABARD and UNDP India said in a joint statement.

DiCRA provides open access to key geospatial datasets pertinent to climate-resilient agriculture.

DiCRA, which is curated by UNDP and partner organisations to inform the public about investments in agriculture, already provides intelligence on climate resilience for 50 million hectares of farmland across the country.

NABARD will host and maintain the DiCRA platform and use its key geospatial datasets for policy making, research and development activities, with UNDP’s technical support, it said.


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India enroute to reduce 45% emissions by 2030

Sonal Desai


According to a Third National Communication (TNC) report, India’s greenhouse emissions, emitted for every unit increase of gross domestic product (GDP) – fell by 33% from 2005 to 2019.

The rise in RE generation and increase in forest cover will enable India to reduce emissions intensity by 45% from the 2005 level by 2030—the country’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“The entire world is grappling with climate change. India has shown the way to combat it,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address to the nation from the Red Fort on the 77th Independence Day.

SDGs addressed:

  • 13 Climate Action
  • 13.2 Integrate climate change into national policies, planning
  • 13.b Build capacity for climate change planning, management

The target:
India has set a target to reduce:
The carbon intensity of its economy by at least 45 percent by 2030
Reduce the total projected carbon emissions by one billion metric tons through 2030
Achieve the target of net zero by 2070.

The task:
India must eliminate coal by 2040 and reduce emissions by 2030 to meet 1.5°C temperature limit; 2023-24 budget includes clean energy projects.

The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which includes missions in particular areas of solar energy, energy efficiency, water, sustainable agriculture, Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat, green India, and strategic knowledge for climate change

The initiatives:
The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC): To support adaptation efforts in States and Union Territories, with 30 projects approved in 27 states and UTs.

ISA: To promote solar energy utilisation and facilitate cooperation among solar-rich countries.

CDRI: To enhance infrastructure resilience in natural and man-made disasters by collaborating governments, organizations, and experts on strategies, policies, and technologies.

Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT): For voluntary low carbon transition of sectors that are difficult to reduce carbon emission

The International Big Cat Alliance: To protect and conserve seven major big cats – tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah globally.

New initiatives under CDRI and ISA, such as Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) and Green Grids Initiative—One Sun One World One Grid (GGI-OSOWOG), were also introduced at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021.

Conclusion:
India has been successful in adopting renewable energy. At present, it has a 160GW of RE capacity in its energy mix which is 40% of the total installed capacity. The country to reach the nether capacity is aggressive in RE capacity addition. The target is to achieve 500GW from RE by 2030. Going by the reduction scene in emissions, the RE capacity will help further lower the country’s emissions!


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