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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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,

6. 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 days
Flood tolerant cultivars of paddy, zero till cultivation for timely sowing of rabi crops, etc.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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