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HomePosts Tagged "sustainable rice farming"
Climate, Environment, R&D, Soil Health, Sustainability

At the multi stakeholder COP29 panel discussion , ADB’s $14 billion food security commitment and the emerging partnerships reflecting the urgency of fostering sustainable and inclusive agricultural systems were highlighted, paving the way for bold and transformative innovations across sustainable agricultural practices, nutrition-focused interventions, and global resilience in Asia Pacific

During the first week of COP29, the urgency to address agriculture’s role in climate resilience and food security has never been clearer. The Asia-Pacific region, home to some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable populations, is at the forefront of this challenge. Climate change, water scarcity, and political conflicts threaten food security, disrupt livelihoods, and exacerbate nutritional deficiencies across the region.

ADB Senior Director for Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Dr. Qingfeng Zhang pointed to the centrality of International Financial institutions (IFIs) in Asia-Pacific’s food systems and climate goals. “Moving forward, our focus is on three key priorities. First, we will shift from a production-based approach to demand-side interventions, with a strong emphasis on nutrition security. Second, we aim to advance smart agriculture, restore natural capital, and strengthen fisheries and agricultural systems while supporting food productivity, reducing food loss and waste, and promoting open trade. Finally, we will harness digital technology and champion inclusive agricultural policies to drive equitable and sustainable development.”

IFIs play a vital role in shaping global agricultural transformation. Their contributions span multiple areas, including policy dialogue, where they align incentives for farmers and private investors to prioritize climate resilience. In parallel, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Director for Agricultural Development Martien van Nieuwkoop highlighted context-specific and innovations-driven initiatives as natural spaces “where science meets finance” and where IFIs can address market failures and build systems that truly benefit farmers.

“When it comes to technological innovation, there is no universal solution or “Tesla car” that works in all conditions. Instead, solutions must be adapted to local contexts, which highlights the importance of bundling technologies into tailored packages. This is where initiatives like the new ADB-CGIAR Clearinghouse play a critical role,” noted van Nieuwkoop, adding that platforms that can integrate these bundled solutions and address multiple constraints simultaneously will be crucial in ensuring that they are practical, scalable, and impactful.

Amidst all these, innovation and technology play a key role in reshaping farming practices. AI-driven weather forecasting is providing real-time, actionable insights for farmers, optimizing planting schedules and resource use. “AI tools are revolutionizing agriculture, enabling small-scale farmers to make data-driven decisions,” noted Michael Kremer, Director, Development Innovation Lab, University of Chicago.

Nutrition programming was also cited as an invaluable element of this transformation, addressing the broader health and resilience challenges linked to food security. Sarah LaHaye, Lead for Climate Action and Nutrition at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) underscored, “Nutrition is often an afterthought in climate and food security programming. It’s vital to intentionally integrate nutrition to ensure that crop diversification and resilience efforts also improve nutritional outcomes.” LaHaye cited GAIN programs in Indonesia, which tackled food loss and waste while addressing emissions and nutritional benefits, as a key example of how climate and nutrition goals can align effectively.

ADB Director General – Chief Compliance Officer for Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department Bruno Carrasco closed the session with a resounding call to action, “We must invest in science, innovation, and partnerships to address today’s challenges while building a food-secure future.”

At the multi stakeholder COP29 panel discussion

Agro Universities, Foodgrains, R&D, Sustainability

It focusses on ensuring the long-term viability of advancements in rice production and value chains across the region.

With the APART’s closure approaching, IRRI and partners are starting to discuss a comprehensive exit strategy that will ensure the continuation and sustainability of the technologies and practices introduced by the project for the rice value chain in Assam.

The Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART) will conclude in 2024. To ensure the continuity of its impact, the Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agricultural Services (ARIAS) Society and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) are collaborating on a transition plan that focuses on ensuring the long-term viability of advancements in rice production and value chains across the region.

APART, funded by the World Bank, has been instrumental in promoting climate-resilient agriculture and enhancing regional rice productivity. Key to its success has been the introduction of stress-tolerant rice varieties (STRVs) that benefited more than 400,000 farmers in Assam. These varieties, engineered to withstand floods, droughts, and other stressors, provided agricultural resilience, promoted mechanized farming practices, and improved labor productivity and efficiency.

Through APART, over 4,500 training programs were conducted for nearly 160,000 farmers, 32 per cent of whom were women. These programs empowered the learners to adopt modern agricultural technologies, such as mechanized direct seeding of rice, mechanical transplanting, harvesting through reapers and combine harvesters, and using axial flow and open drum threshers for threshing, which encouraged the project’s sustainability.

Through the project, IRRI also developed a Web-GIS Portal and the Rice-based Cropping System Knowledge Bank, offering valuable resources for informed decision-making and knowledge sharing.

Strategies to ensure the continuation of these achievements were discussed in a meeting co-organized by the ARIAS Society and IRRI. Senior officials from various government departments participated.

In her address, Aruna Rajoria, Agriculture Production Commissioner to the Government of Assam, highlighted the need for integrating government schemes to support the project’s long-term sustainability. She said, “Collaboration between the state government, Assam Agricultural University (AAU), other state agencies, and IRRI is critical to maintain the momentum of technology adoption and ensure the sustainability of activities initiated as part of this project.”

As ARIAS Society and IRRI work towards the transition, the emphasis remains on advancing agricultural transformation within Assam’s rice-based agri-food systems, highlighting the role of innovative technologies and collaborative efforts in fostering progress and development.

It focusses on ensuring the long-term viability