Drought adaptation: Emerging conceptual framework

Brief on the pilot initiatives

Continuing work on the pilots

Deployment of staff of LTA

Drought adaptation: Emerging conceptual framework

With the experience of the first phase the following conceptual framework for drought adaptation in the context of Andhra Pradesh is emerging.

Climate variability is a major source of vulnerability in rainfed areas. The farming systems in these regions operate on a cyclical basis attaining its viability[1] from the good and poor rainfall events occurring in a cyclical manner. Traditional farming systems and livelihood patterns are adapted to a given understanding of the climate variability, a wisdom accumulated over long-years of observation and internalization. The tie up of agriculture operations with definite ‘karte’ and ‘nakshatra’ for example, is an age-old practice.

The dominant macro trends in agriculture towards mono-cropping in large areas, high cost and intensive use of inorganic inputs, degradation of soils, degradation of biomass, overuse of groundwater resources, livestock becoming relatively independent of agriculture increases vulnerability of the farming systems.

Climate change is accentuating the climate variability bringing in several uncertainties in rainfed lands. This new reality necessitates appropriate adjustments in the farming systems and livelihoods, and in the related natural resource use patterns; this entails re-working on the production systems. Adjustments also need to be made between excess and deficit years, particularly to minimize the adverse impacts of poor rainfall events or undue disturbance in the intra-year rainfall distribution. Institutional mechanisms to manage and govern natural resource use occupies a centre stage for a) much of the adaptation is in terms of re-defining the natural resource use patterns b) create institutional mechanisms for buffering c) evolving financial and market instruments.

The risks of market and epidemics (both in livestock and agriculture) overlay on the rainfall variability and amplifies the drought risks. Reducing covariant risks like livestock diseases through strengthening health-care systems is also important as is minimizing the vulnerability in agriculture systems to pests and diseases.  Lower cost of production, internalizing the inputs into farming system, internalizing the value chain not only increases stable net returns but also helps in minimizing losses during severe adversities. Diversification of livelihood base and farming systems is the ultimate key to surviving droughts.

While the macro trends are disturbing, several new developments open up unprecedented opportunities. A greater appreciation of the need to address groundwater issues, policy thrust on rainfed areas, increase in the availability of development investments and a greater appreciation of the community based organizations that are taking roots (particularly in AP) are some such factors that enhance the scope for action.

The scope of the pilot project on AP Drought Adaptation Initiative is built around the above conceptual understanding. External sources of irrigation like canals is not considered within the above framework as the common adage goes, ‘even after realizing all potential about 60% area is going to be rainfed’.

Many of the conceptual underpinnings of drought adaptation are not new. Several programs of government and others have been attempting these as a part of rural development and drought management. AP DAI therefore, considers understanding the critical gaps in all such initiatives and innovate on ways of addressing them as a major concern. The focus is on evolving strategies that can be easily taken to scale through the ongoing mainstream development programs. For this reason, ‘whole village’ development efforts are not made and the focus is on the pilot initiatives that encompass very diverse portfolio of sub-projects - from ground water to backyard poultry. The attempt is to evolve a package of measures that can potentially diversify the present rural development (including agriculture, livestock) programs to include drought adaptation as a core area of concern.

Brief on the pilot initiatives:

AP DAI envisages development of a package of tested measures for drought adaptation. Pilot initiatives will be started in a small scale and it is envisaged that the successful pilots will be scaled up within the project Mandals and then at district level through the mainstream rural development and other programs of the government. The following pilots are initiated during Phase 1 of the program in Mahabubnagar district. The table also gives an impression on the readiness of the pilots for partial scaling up, as evolved from the discussion during the World Bank Mission in February, 2008. [See  Annexure - 1 : Various pilots undertaken under Phase 1)

There would be a small thematic overlap among the pilots detailed above. Some of these pilots are initiated under the APRLP program and considering the relevance of these for drought adaptation, the same are being continued in the 2nd phase of APDAI.  The spread of the pilots village-wise is presented [Annexure - 2]

Continuing work on the pilots:

The pilot initiatives are continuing as per the field requirements. Establishing a ‘day-care centre’ for goat-kids and establishment of a leased-in fodder-farm in Daultabad village are the new initiatives during the period. The LTA team is preparing detailed road maps for each of the pilot activities, which will be ready by April 15th, 2008.  Regular monthly review meetings for the staff are being organized.

A workshop was organized with the MMS members and the team on 13-15 December, 08 to discuss about the closure of Phase 1 of the APDAI program. Subsequently WASSAN has supported the MMS in consolidating their accounts for the first phase with a cut-off date as 31st December, 2007. The accountants are also trained in Tally software to computerize the AP DAI accounts. It was also decided that Special Executive Committee meetings at the MMS level would also be organized to enable the MMS to review the progress in the program.

Deployment of Staff of LTA

WASSAN has deployed all the staff for the project as envisaged in the technical proposal. The groundwater expert has left the organization (but, is presently available for specific work on a consultancy basis) and a new person would be deployed soon. Ms. Rizwana has been deployed as the Project Officer in Anantapur district. WASSAN has also deployed two additional full-time field based personnel  in Mahabubnagar district, who were not envisaged in the proposal; this is in response to the work-needs at the field.

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