Tracking Adaptation Pathways and Identifying Strategies for Enhancing Grass-root Resilience to Climate Change Synthesis of Case Studies from Selected Countries of Asia (Bangladesh, China, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam)

Abstract

The recent 4th Assessment of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides the latest revelations on the science, impacts, and potential measures to address climate change. Nevertheless, the state of knowledge that is available at the global level is far from comprehensive. Whereas there has been high focus on continental understanding, the same cannot be said at regional and sub-regional levels (INCAA 2010). The early action plans in response to growing awareness on the challenges of climate change, the governments worldwide, including those from developing countries, have strengthened confidence, capacity, knowledge, and experience to focus on agricultural production systems that are resilient to climate risks. Motivated by growing interests and building on available knowledge, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) together with six countries in Asia undertook the challenge to “know in order to act” and implemented the project entitled “Vulnerability to Climate Change: Adaptation Strategies and Layers of Resilience “. Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), this study is a comprehensive effort to analyze the vulnerability and adaptation strategies by farmers in the marginal regions of Asia in the context of a changing climate or increasing climate associated variability and risk. We hope the results will provide a basis for further suggestions on strategies and policies to reduce risk and vulnerability, build and strengthen adaptive capacity, to provide options for farmers to be able to cope better with the future climate change...