Workshop on Agricultural Disaster Resilience

Summary of Workshop on Agricultural Disaster Resilience

• Event: National workshop organized by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Purpose: Enhance agricultural disaster preparedness in response to climate-induced hazards in India.
• Key Statistics: Over 68% of India's cropped area is drought-prone, indicating significant vulnerability.
• Key Participants: Policymakers, scientists, agricultural experts, including Shri Shiv Narayan Sidh, Shri Arnab Dhaki, Shri Madhup Vyas, Dr. Pramod Kumar Meherda, and others.

Discussions and Recommendations:

1. Proactive Multi-Hazard Preparedness:

   • Emphasis on integrating climate risk reduction into agricultural policies.
   • Shift from reactive to proactive risk management highlighted by Shri Rajendra Singh, NDMA.

2. Technical Sessions:

   • Focused on different aspects of agricultural risks:
     • Drought Monitoring:
       • Update of Drought Manual 2020.
       • Incorporation of technologies like remote sensing and AI for monitoring.
     • Pest Surveillance:
       • Need for a national surveillance and early warning system for pest outbreaks.
     • Cold Wave Guidelines:
       • Strengthening state-level action plans.
       • Promotion of cold-tolerant crop varieties.
     • Hailstorm Guidelines:
       • Development of impact-based forecasts.
       • Enhancement of insurance coverage for vulnerable regions.

3. Commitment:

   • Shri Devesh Chaturvedi emphasized the government’s commitment to a resilient agricultural framework.
   • An integrated and proactive approach to managing agricultural risks was committed to being actioned post-workshop discussions.

Conclusion:

• The workshop served as a foundation for improved agricultural disaster response strategies, aiming to empower farmers with timely information and resources.
• Importance placed on cross-sectoral collaboration to bridge last-mile gaps in disaster preparedness efforts.

Policy Integration:

• Workshop discussions and recommendations are aimed to be integrated into new frameworks to enhance resilience and preparedness against climate-related agricultural threats.

Overall, this initiative underscores the urgency and importance of addressing climate challenges to ensure the sustainability of India's agricultural sector.