NICRA-Technology Demonstration Component Way forward for NICRA-Technology Demonstration Component Technical Programme Finalisation Workshop (2017-20) at UBKV Cooch Behar (May 30-31, 2017)

Focus for the next three years (2017-20) Focus is to enhance resilience at the farm level. Facilitating adoption of package of resilient technologies by a farmer To reach large number of households in the NICRA village, leading to Climate Resilient Village Farming system/ resource based targeting of resilient technologies from the basket of options (Dryland/ Irrigated/ Horticulture / animal based etc.) Efficient use of knowledge generated/ infrastructure created built/ capacities in the village in the last 6 years Confining to the existing NICRA villages

Enhancing Resilience in the NICRA Village Village-Kukurah, Buxar, Bihar Climatic Vulnerability : Drought and Flood No of households: 637 Total area: 622 ha Average rainfall: June-Sept: 800 mm Oct-Dec: 100 mm Production systems: Rainfed Rainfed with livestock Irrigated Irrigated with livestock Flood prone system

Targeting resilient practices for various farming situations in the village from the basket of options Farming system Crops commonly grown Constraints for achieving resilience Proven Resilient practices which can be targeted Rainfed production system (72% area of the village) (upland (50), midland (210), lowland(200) Rice, Bajra, sorghum, wheat, mustard and lentil uneven distribution of rainfall, prolonged breaks during the monsoon season, shallow soils with low water retention, risk of drought spells Bunding, rising bund height in paddy, Augmenting the water availability by renovation of rain water harvesting structures/ existing tanks/ wells, etc. DSR, Drought tolerant varieties of paddy, short duration cultivars of paddy, pigeonpea, bajra, sorghum, finger millet, lathyrus, lentil,mustard; addressing nutrient deficiencies, critical irrigation during prolonged drought spells, zero till cultivation Rainfed production system with livestock Lack of assured fodder supply, little green fodder during the lean season Improved fodder varieties of sorghum, green fodder cultivation with limited/ harvested water

Targeting resilient practices for various farming situations in the village from the basket of options Farming system Crops commonly grown Constraints for resilience Proven Resilient practices which can be targeted Irrigated production system (16% of the area of the village) Rice, wheat, chickpea, lentil Limited water availability, limited area under assured irrigation, shallow soils with low water retention Efficient irrigation methods, FIRB, improved cultivars of paddy, zero till cultivation, cropping intensification with short duration varieties, etc. Irrigated production system with animals Dependence of crop residues, little green fodder during the lean fodder Improved fodder crops & varieties, green fodder cultivation, Improved breeds, fish farming in tanks,

Targeting resilient practices for various farming situations in the village from the basket of options Farming system Crops commonly grown Constraints for resilience Proven Resilient practices which can be targeted Flood prone area of the village (12% area of the village; 80 ha) Paddy, lentil, lathyrus, mustard, chickpea Flash floods, Uncontrolled water, depths up to 5 feet, duration of flooding up to 8-10 days Flood tolerant cultivars of paddy, zero till cultivation for timely sowing of rabi crops, etc.

Facilitating the spread of technologies in the village Several low cost technologies can be spread in the village Resilient varieties, Intercropping systems, Sowing techniques, land configuration, High yielding fodder cultivar, DSR, etc. Seed bank and custom hiring centers holds key Convergence with department for water harvesting and use, livestock is required Greater awareness and capacity building is needed Use of communication technology for dissemination of information

Focus on science based interventions Water availability based crop planning for maximizing returns Making use of the soil health cards information and correcting deficient nutrients Technologies for contingency situations for farming situations Cropping intensification and maximizing incomes in resource endowed areas PMFBY Agroadvisories

Emphasis on quantification of the interventions vis-à-vis the climatic event The performance of the resilient practices are to be assessed in relation to the climatic event ( dry spell/ drought/ flood) The duration of the dry spell/ drought/ extent and duration of flood and how the practices performed Comparison with the farmers practice Effect of multiple interventions on crop yields and economic returns in various typologies The extent of resilience achieved/ enhanced Services of SRF for intensive data collection