A compendium of Technologies, Practices, Services and Policies for Scaling Climate Smart Agriculture in Odisha (India)

Stakeholders engaged in agricultural research for development (AR4D) are increasingly tackling risks associated with climate change in smallholder systems. Accordingly, development and scaling of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) are one of the priorities for all the organizations, departments and ministries associated with the farm sector. Having a ‘one-stop-shop’ compiled in the format of a compendium for CSA technologies, practices and services would therefore serve a guide for all the stakeholders for scaling CSA in smallholder systems. Bringing out a Compendium on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) for Odisha, India was therefore thought of during the workshop on ‘Scaling Climate-Smart Agriculture in Odisha’ organized at Bhubaneswar on 18-19 July 2018 by International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in collaboration with Department of Agriculture (DoA) & Farmers’ Empowerment, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Rice Research Institute (ICAR-NRRI), Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) & International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) under the aegis of CGIAR Research program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). The main objectives to bring forth this compendium are: to argue the case for agriculture policies and practices that are climate-smart; to raise awareness of what can be done to make agriculture policies and practices climatesmart; and to provide practical guidance and recommendations that are well referenced and, wherever possible, based on lessons learned from practical action. CSA programmes are unlikely to be effective unless their implementation is supported by sound policies and institutions. It is therefore important to enhance institutional capacities in order to implement and replicate CSA strategies. Institutions are vital to agricultural development as well as the realisation of resilient livelihoods.They are not only a tool for farmers and decision-makers, but are also the main conduit through which CSA practices can be scaled up and sustained. The focus in this compendium is on CSA and it’s relevant aspects, i.e., (i) technologies and practices, (ii) services, (iii) technology targeting, (iv) business models, (v) capacity building, and (vi) policies. The approaches and tools available in the compendium span from face-to-face technicianfarmer dialogues to more structured exchanges of online and offline e-learning. In every scenario it is clear that tailoring to local expectations and needs is key. In particular, the voice of farmers is essential to be captured as they are the key actors to promote sustainable agriculture, and their issues need to be prioritized. CSA practices are expected to sustainably increase productivity and resilience (adaptation), reduce Greenhouse Gases (mitigation), and enhance achievement of national food security along with sustainable development goals. CSA is widely expected to contribute towards achieving these objectives and enhance climate change adaptation. CSA practices have to be included in State’s Climate Policy as a priority intervention as the state steps up efforts to tackle climate change. Furthermore, emphasis shoud be laid on CSA training for a sustainable mode to enhance CSA adoption in the state hence the relevance of developing this document. The adaption of climate related knowledge, technologies and practices to local conditions, promoting joint learning by farmers, researchers, rural advisor and widely disseminating CSA practices, is critical. This compendium brings together a collection of experiences from different stakeholders with background of agricultural extension and rural advisory services in supporting CSA. The contributions are not intended to be state-of-the art academic articles but thought and discussion pieces of work in progress. The compendium itself is a ‘living‘ document which is intended to be revised periodically

Organic Cotton Crop Guide - A manual for practitioners in the tropics

Designed primarily as a reference manual for extension workers and farmers, the Organic Cotton Crop Guide provides comprehensive practical know-how on organic cotton production in the tropics. The guide covers all relevant aspects from soil preparation and variety selection over crop nutrition and pest management to the economic performance of organic cotton farming

Improving the Availability of Organic Forage Seed in Wales

The EU regulation requiring organic farmers to use 100% organic herbage seed is looming closer. Currently they are ‘enjoying’ a derogation from this because suitable seed is not available. For 2004 seeds mixtures had to contain at least 50% organic seed. This breathing space before full 100% organic seed is required is giving the organic industry time to improve the availability of suitable species and varieties. Historically there was a viable herbage seed production industry in the lowland and southern areas of Wales. This area turned to livestock production during its more profitable periods, with specialist arable and herbage seed production switching largely to south east England. The agronomic potential remains in Wales but now needs to be developed to meet specific organic needs. A recent survey of organic farmers in Wales (see Gwlad issue 26) identifiedpersistence, total annual yield and early spring growth as the most important characters in a seeds mix. Sourcing organic seed of such forage varieties is essential for the continued development of the organic sector. Following a series of farmer discussion group meetings where these concerns were highlighted a feasibility project funded by Farming Connect, is looking at the potential of producing organic forage seed in Wales. Experimental plot work at IGER has been addressing some of the challenges in organic forage seed production. Four farmers from organic discussion groups, with a range of farm types and systems are involved in developing this work by hosting field scale demonstration plots. Field plots, designed with farmer involvement, have focused on the feasibility of different approaches to forage grass seed production (plans are in Appendix A). Initially the emphasis has been on weed control, crop nutrition and integration of forage seed production into the farming systems using seed crops of perennial ryegrass, hybrid ryegrass and timothy. Harvesting, drying and cleaning of seed have also been addressed. The first demonstration area of the hybrid ryegrass variety AberLinnet was successfully harvested in 2003, with further areas harvested in 2004. To involve all stakeholders, the project included Organic and Seed Certification bodies, as well as seed companies to progress organic forage seed production in Wales and to develop a better understanding of the challenges involved. Achievements to date: • Successful farmer participation and development of this as a route to developing organic herbage seed production agronomy and harvesting techniques. • Inclusion of other stakeholders in meetings • Herbage seed yields at potentially commercially viable levels on most sites • Identification of areas for further work • Publication of results and project progress at a range of levels from Gwlad and organic e- bulletin to scientific and farmer conferences in Wales, UK, Europe and Australia. (Details in Appendix B) • Dissemination of results obtained at farmer group meetings in England and Wales. • An overview factsheet is in progress Identification of the gaps: • Lack of farmer confidence to proceed to commercial enterprise. • A need to address further technical issues highlighted as a result of the initial work (eg clover variety, weed control). • Designing sound rotations that meet with certification standards (organic and seed) needs to be addressed. • Integration of seed production into a range of arable and or livestock systems is important to the viability and practicality of organic herbage seed production. • The expertise and confidence of the organic growers needs to be developed. • Developing farm scale harvesting, drying, distribution and marketing with farmers, and other stakeholders. • Lack of active organic seed processor and marketing presence in the area The next Phase This should be viewed in two parts; in the short term we need to ensure continuity of cropping on the farm sites and dissemination of information, building on the successes of the initial project; the longer term aims are the development of infrastructure, cooperation of interested stakeholders (eg seed companies, machinery rings, certification bodies) and scaling up to a commercially viable level from the farm

Soil management in organic fruit growing

In the EU-standards you will find a period of three years for converting your orchard from conventional into organic. But conversion of your way of thinking about the orchard system and conversion of your root system and soil will take double time. The focus must change from curative to preventive. Production, growth regulation, fertilisation, undergrowth, weed control and water management all come together in the overall soil management

Review on the possible interactions of pests, diseases & weeds in cereals grown in organic and conventional agriculture

Background The demand for organically produced food is outstripping the ability of UK farmers to supply it and the majority is imported. Furthermore, there is a major shortfall in home-produced organic cereals and cereal products, including straw. In response to this need, the consequences of increasing the area of organically produced cereal crops on pests, diseases and weeds require evaluation. Furthermore, as the area of organic cereals increases, crops may be grown more in the major cereal production regions. This could have consequences for both the organic producer and farmers growing cereals conventionally. Objectives (i) review the current state of knowledge on the status and distribution of pests, diseases and weeds in organic and conventionally grown cereals, (ii) assess the likely rate of expansion of organic cereal production and the areas where this is most likely to occur, together with any likely or consequent change in the distribution of conventionally grown cereals, (iii) assess the distribution of specific cereal cultivars and species in organic and non-organic production in relation to their impact on disease, pest and weed distribution. A specific sub-objective will be to assess the likely impact of the increased use of organically produced seed on seed-borne diseases, (iv) try to forecast whether or not the changes in cereal production will affect the current status and distribution of pests, diseases and weeds, and, if so, in which major directions, (v) make recommendations for future research, both to ensure that the forecast under paragraph (iii) is correct and that any negative trends are highlighted and, if possible, dealt with. Methods A literature review was undertaken to identify potential risks to conventional and organic production cereals on an extension of the organic area on risks of pests, diseases and weeds. See main report for results. Future work Monitoring of the more important pests and diseases in organic production would be prudent. Any problems for non-organic cereal producers are unlikely to arise for several years because of the small scale and slow increase of organic cereal production, but this should be regarded as a ‘grace’ period to allow for development of appropriate solutions before any potential problems become important in practice. Problems for organic producers may emerge more quickly; these need to be monitored so that cultivar and other recommendations can be developed. It is likely that the best spectrum of cultivars for non-organic and organic production will differ, which would help in restricting disease interactions between the two production systems. Any constraints on production of seed for organic cereal growing should be removed so far as possible. Development of the system of bi-cropping, both for organic and non-organic production, should be continued since there are good indications that this can restrict problems due to slugs, aphids and BYDV, septoria leaf and glume blotch, and probably take all. The importance of using disease resistant cultivars needs to be still further stressed for both organic and non-organic production. The influence of sowing date on disease development, particularly in the autumn, needs more attention. Renewed efforts to develop and introduce production of cultivar mixtures, particularly for organic cereal production, would help to restrict disease development. Fundamental studies on the biology of the major perennial weeds are still needed. Although seed spread can be minimised by frequent cutting, the effects of this on the spread of roots and rhizomes is poorly understood. It is important to maintain a regular watch or survey for indications of any increase in the key seed-borne diseases that may occur in organic cereal production and to determine the reasons for any such increase. Technology transfer The report will be suitable for wider dissemination among researchers and the agriculture industry. All contributing organisations have means by which this information can be made available through press briefings, Web-sites and at farming events

Clover:cereal bi-cropping for organic farms (OF0173)

This is the final report of Defra project OF0173. The attached main report starts with a more detailed summary, from which this text is extracted. IGER, IACR and others developed a system for growing cereals, especially for whole crop silage, that enables either greatly reduced or zero levels of N fertilizer and agrochemicals to be used. The system is simple and straightforward and relies on direct drilling of the cereal into an established understorey of white clover. The white clover understorey becomes permanent and perennial and successive cereal crops are drilled into it, harvested and re-drilled each year. The clover provides N for the cereal crop and the gross changes in crop architecture that occur (a) encourage large populations of predatory invertebrates that devour pest species and hence obviate the need for insecticide use (b) frustrate the spread of fungal foliar diseases and remove the need to use fungicides and (c) suppress most weeds. Some of the advantages of the clover:cereal bi-cropping system that are especially relevant to organic farms are a) simultaneous cropping and fertility building rather than separate seasons for each b) effective nutrient cycling c) weeds replaced by clover; limitation of crop area requiring intensive weed control d) confusion of insect pests and habitat for beneficial insects, spiders etc. e) improved field access relative to bare soil The work investigated the agronomic viability and sustainability of bi-cropping for both silage and grain production in organic farming systems as specified under UKROFS. Experiments were carried out on three UKROF approved sites with contrasting soil types and environmental conditions. Randomised block, small-plot experiments evaluated the most satisfactory ways of modifying the IGER/IACR system for organic farming. The main point to emerge is that although the bi-crop system is well proven and developed for use in a non-organic system, grass weeds remain a problem in translating the system to organic farming as herbicides can not be used to control them. There are a number of strategies that emerged during the course of the present work that indicated ways in which the grass weed problem may be overcome in future. Firstly, oats seem to suppress grass weeds and growing this crop instead of wheat appeared to show considerable promise. Secondly strip drilling alternate 20 cm strips of cereal with 30 cm strips of clover allows separate management of the two crop components, facilitating weed control. The work confirmed that spring-sown cereals are not an option for bi-cropping as they are easily outcompeted by the clover. An important positive feature of all of the trials was the consistent absence or low levels of diseases and pests despite high levels of airborne pathogen inoculum in the trial area. It is difficult to gauge the relative contributions of the organic system as a whole and the bi-crop system in particular to this feature. There are certainly important theoretical reasons as to why the bi-crop system should help in this direction, including the restriction on spread of splash-borne diseases because of the presence of clover around the cereal plants, green background confusion of insect pests and the probable lack of surplus soluble nitrogen in the cereal plants. The more positive results in the absence of grass weeds were limited to a single year for cereals (and two seasons for vegetables in another related trial). However, in both cases, there were clear indications that, with a relatively small amount of fine tuning of the system, it should be possible to obtain highly acceptable results from both types of inter-cropping and, indeed, from rotational integration of the two. Further progress would certainly be worthwhile for the organic producer because it seems clear that a modest further adjustment of the competitive balance between crop and clover will lead to a clearer expression of all of the potential advantages of such systems, outlined above. Despite the difficulties encountered, progress was made and the list of advantages and potential advantages of bi-cropping for organic agriculture is so large and significant that further work should be done to capitalise on that completed to date

Design for Social and Environmental Enterprise

SEED Foundation undertakes action research to develop new, innovative ways for design to most effectively contribute towards sustainable development. The research that follows is not the result of academic investigations but rather, a culmination of 20 years direct professional involvement in the sector. By aligning current political goals with cutting edge design thinking and good business sense, this paper presents our ideas on how more designers can profitably solve social and environmental problems through their work. It specifically investigates how the still emerging discipline of service design, in dealing more with relationships and experiences than material objects, offers inherent social and environmental benefits and is naturally transferable to sectors broader than private business –where designers traditionally work. By working in public and third sectors, and especially with social businesses, this paper uncovers new roles and business models for comprehensively sustainable design practice. Keywords: Design, Service design, sustainable development, social enterprise, social and environmental</p