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Thursday / December 12. 2024
HomePosts Tagged "Resilient Farm and Food Systems"

Twenty-three agricultural scientists from six countries in Asia and Africa participated in a hands-on workshop to enhance their skills in using modern modeling tools. The aim was to build participants’ capacity to analyze the complexities of mixed farming systems and devise sustainable solutions

The workshop, held from 25 to 29 November at ICRISAT Headquarters, was organized by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) under the CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Intensification of Mixed Farming Systems (SI-MFS). It was conducted in collaboration with the ICAR-Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (IIFSR) and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT).

The goal of the workshop was to promote the sustainable intensification of mixed farming systems by integrating systems thinking, incorporating environmental, economic, and social dimensions into bundled solutions, and using tools like Crop-Livestock Enterprise Modeling (CLEM) and Farm Design. These approaches help evaluate solutions, understand trade-offs and synergies, and support resilient, inclusive, and profitable smallholder farming.

Dr Santiago Lopez Ridaura, co-lead of the CGIAR’s SI-MFS, highlighted the complexity of small-scale farms, which often feature a diverse mix of crops, intercrops, livestock, and both on-farm and off-farm enterprises. He emphasized the need for an interdisciplinary approach to understanding system dynamics and trade-offs.

Highlighting the progress in India, Dr Sunil Kumar, Director of ICAR-IIFSR, spoke about the 75 prototype models developed for various zones and the importance of bridging the lab-to-land gap while aligning with policies. “Scaling solutions requires understanding on-the-ground constraints and strong policy backing,” said Dr Sunil Kumar, referencing their upcoming International Conference on 28 February 2025.

Dr Stanford Blade, Director General-Interim and Deputy Director General-Research at ICRISAT, stressed the need for balanced interventions. “A single intervention can sometimes unintentionally disrupt other parts of the system. Utilizing systems tools is essential for analyzing trade-offs and achieving sustainable, balanced solutions,” said Dr Blade.

Dr ML Jat, ICRISAT’s Research Program Director for Resilient Farm and Food Systems, emphasized the importance of scaling farm-level innovations to the landscape level and designing carbon-neutral farming systems.

Dr Shalander Kumar, Deputy Global Research Program Director of Enabling Systems Transformation, highlighted the workshop’s collaborative nature.

The International Training Workshop on Modern Approaches in Systems Analysis for Designing Actionable Systemic Strategies Towards Sustainable Mixed Farming Systems brought together scientists from CGIAR institutions and National Agricultural Research Systems from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Laos, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.

Participants also visited smallholder farms in Latur, Maharashtra, to observe the practical applications of ICRISAT’s work.

Twenty-three agricultural scientists from six countries in

The study covering an area of 477 million hectares spanning across India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, identified and mapped 27 major cropping systems.

Scientists at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) recently released a study highlighting the role of geospatial maps and satellite data in shaping the future of food security. Focusing on South Asia, the research underscores how these advanced tools can significantly enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.  The study covering an area of 477 million hectares spanning across India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, identified and mapped 27 major cropping systems.

With only 6 annual harvests remaining before the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) deadline, the need to sustainably intensify agricultural production has never been more urgent. Drylands, in particular, present a significant opportunity to enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to global food security.

“Dryland cropping systems are complex, shaped by biophysical, social, and economic factors. The use of geospatial products and satellite data for mapping these systems can be invaluable. These tools provide critical insights for decision-making, unlocking opportunities for increased production, and enhancing farmers’ incomes in these challenging environments,” said Dr Stanford Blade, Deputy Director General-Research at ICRISAT.

Highlighting the uniqueness of this research, Dr ML Jat, Global Research Program Director, Resilient Farm and Food Systems, stated “Predominantly, studies use spatial data to map single or major crops such as rice, wheat and sugarcane or to monitor crop intensity, natural vegetation and more.  This study is a trailblazer in understanding the entire cropping system, i.e., crops grown in a sequence over the entire year.”

“This data serves as a foundational layer and can be used in various ways to understand and improve agricultural performance. When combined with climate and soil data, it can aid in planning for resource optimization and enhancing agricultural productivity,” noted the study’s lead author, Dr Muralikrishna Gumma.

On a global scale, these geospatial maps provide essential data that can guide climate change mitigation efforts. At the national level, these data sets offer a detailed understanding of regional cropping patterns, enabling governments to optimize resource allocation. 

Geospatial mapping can inform policies that ensure the efficient distribution of resources like water, fertilizer, and seeds, based on the specific needs of different cropping systems. Additionally, these maps can be integrated into disaster management strategies, helping to identify areas vulnerable to agricultural stress, such as droughts or floods, and allowing for more targeted and effective responses.

The study Spatial Distribution of Cropping Systems in South Asia Using Time-Series Satellite Data Enriched with Ground Data (mdpi.com) was funded by the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific financed by the Government of Japan through the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Mahalanobis National Crop Forecasting Centre (MNCFC), the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, WRI Land & Carbon Lab grant convened by World Resources Institute, and the Bezos Earth Fund.  

The study covering an area of 477