Scaling Out Climate-Smart Agriculture for Resilient Farming in Beed district of Maharashtra

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an important approach towards minimizing impacts due to climate risks and maintaining agricultural growth. This report aims to contribute towards building a national strategy for scaling out climate resilient agricultural practices and technologies by synthesizing cumulative knowledge, experiences, and learnings gained by ICAR, CCAFS, and CG Centre’s Programs in climate risk management. The report presents district level adaptation plan for resilient farming in the Beed district of Maharashtra. The process consisted of characterization of climatic risks followed by identification and prioritization of CSA technologies and practices and identifying scaling up opportunities through the convergence of government policies and programs. Drought, heat wave, dry spells, and deficit rainfall are frequently occurring climate risks in the district with severe impact on rainfed cropping system. For the identification and prioritization of CSA technologies, all potential technologies are first categorized into six main categories of water-smart, energy-smart, nutrient smart, carbon-smart, weather-smart and knowledge-smart. Thereafter, district specific suitable CSA technologies are identified following a participatory approach through stakeholder’s workshop. The identified technologies are evaluated and prioritized for implementation feasibility, acceptability, adoption barriers, synergy with government plans, incentive mechanisms and key institutions. Total estimate budget of Rs. 387.0 Crore will be required for implementing these technologies in the district. The convergence of resources from relevant government schemes/projects for mobilizing funds for prioritized CSA technologies has been proposed. The process and results provided here are intended to assist decision makers to prioritize investments for CSA interventions to build resilient farming in the district

Scaling Out Climate-Smart Agriculture for Resilient Farming in Adilabad District of Telangana

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an important approach towards minimizing impacts due to climate risks and maintaining agricultural growth. This report is part of the project that aims to contribute towards building a national strategy for scaling out climate resilient agricultural practices and technologies by synthesizing cumulative knowledge, experiences, and learnings gained by ICAR, CCAFS, and CG Centre’s Programs in climate risk management. The report outlines the process of developing a district level adaptation plan for resilient farming in the Adilabad district of Telangana by following steps of climatic risks characterization, identification and prioritization of CSA technologies and practices, the convergence of government policies and programs. Dry spell, uneven rainfall, heat wave and cold wave frequently occur in the district with severe impact on the rainfed cropping system in the district. Location specific CSA practices have the potential to reduce the losses due to climate risk. Potential CSA technologies are categorized into six main categories of water-smart, energysmart, nutrient-smart, carbon-smart, weather-smart and knowledge-smart. Area specific suitable CSA technologies are identified following a participatory approach through stakeholder’s participation. The identified list of technology is evaluated and prioritized for implementation feasibility, acceptability, adoption barriers, synergy with government plans, incentive mechanisms and key institutions. For the implementation of these technologies at the district level, the total estimated budget was estimated to be Rs. 273.0 Crore. The convergence of resources from relevant government schemes/projects for mobilizing funds for prioritized CSA technologies has been proposed for implementing climate adaptation plans at the district level. This integrated framework will be useful for the investment decision making process for resilient farming

Seroprevalence and correlates of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and C virus among intrapartum patients in Kabul, Afghanistan

BackgroundLittle current information is available for prevalence of vertically-transmitted infections among the Afghan population. The purpose of this study is to determine prevalence and correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, and hepatitis B and C infection among obstetric patients and model hepatitis B vaccination approaches in Kabul, Afghanistan.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted at three government maternity hospitals in Kabul, Afghanistan from June through September, 2006. Consecutively-enrolled participants completed an interviewer-administered survey and whole blood rapid testing with serum confirmation for antibodies to HIV, T. pallidum, and HCV, and HBsAg. Descriptive data and prevalence of infection were calculated, with logistic regression used to identify correlates of HBV infection. Modeling was performed to determine impact of current and birth dose vaccination strategies on HBV morbidity and mortality.ResultsAmong 4452 women, prevalence of HBsAg was 1.53% (95% CI: 1.18 - 1.94) and anti-HCV was 0.31% (95% CI: 0.17 - 0.53). No cases of HIV or syphilis were detected. In univariate analysis, HBsAg was associated with husband's level of education (OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.26). Modeling indicated that introduction of birth dose vaccination would not significantly reduce hepatitis-related morbidity or mortality for the measured HBsAg prevalence.ConclusionIntrapartum whole blood rapid testing for HIV, syphilis, HBV, and HCV was acceptable to patients in Afghanistan. Though HBsAg prevalence is relatively low, periodic assessments should be performed to determine birth dose vaccination recommendations for this setting

Hepatitis C and HIV incidence and harm reduction program use in a conflict setting: an observational cohort of injecting drug users in Kabul, Afghanistan

BACKGROUND: Armed conflict may increase the risk of HIV and other pathogens among injecting drug users (IDUs); however, there are few prospective studies. This study aimed to measure incidence and potential predictors, including environmental events and needle and syringe distribution and collection program (NSP) use, of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV among IDUs in Kabul, Afghanistan. METHODS: Consenting adult IDUs completed interviews quarterly in year 1 and semi-annually in year 2 and HCV and HIV antibody testing semi-annually through the cohort period (November 2007–December 2009). Interviews detailed injecting and sexual risk behaviors, NSP service use, and conflict-associated displacement. Quarters with peak conflict or local displacement were identified based on literature review, and key events, including insurgent attacks and deaths, were reported with simple counts. Incidence and predictors of HCV and HIV were measured with Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Of 483 IDUs enrolled, 385 completed one or more follow-up visits (483.8 person-years (p-y)). All participants were male with a median age of 28 years and a median duration of injecting of 2 years. Reported NSP use among the participants ranged from 59.9 to 70.5 % in the first year and was 48.4 and 55.4 % at 18 and 24 months, respectively. There were 41 confirmed deaths, with a crude death rate of 93.4/1000 p-y (95 % confidence interval (CI) 67.9–125) and overdose as the most common cause. HCV and HIV incidence were 35.6/100 p-y (95 % CI 28.3–44.6) and 1.5/100 p-y (95 % CI 0.6–3.3), respectively. Changing from injecting to smoking was protective for HCV acquisition (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 0.53, 95 % CI 0.31–0.92), while duration of injecting (AHR = 1.09, 95 % CI 1.01–1.18/year) and sharing syringes (AHR = 10.09, 95 % CI 1.01–100.3) independently predicted HIV infection. CONCLUSION: There is high HCV incidence and high numbers of reported deaths among male Kabul IDUs despite relatively consistent levels of harm reduction program use; peak violence periods did not independently predict HCV and HIV risk. Programming should increase awareness of HCV transmission and overdose risks, prepare clients for harm reduction needs during conflict or other causes of displacement, and continue efforts to engage community and police force support