Project on Climate Adaptation Atlas for South Asia Launched

25th – 27th April 2023, New Delhi

The ICAR in collaboration with the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA-CIMMYT) and the national agricultural research systems of Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka launched the project Atlas of Climate Adaptation in South Asian Agriculture (ACASA) marking a significant step in south-south cooperation.

 South Asia, the hot spot for climate change, deserves concerted efforts within and between nations of the region to make agriculture and livelihoods more resilient to the adverse effects of climate change which is already evident in the form of more frequent and intense incidence of extreme events, rising temperature and changing rainfall patterns.

The project was launched with an inception workshop from 25th -27th April 2023 in New Delhi, India. Funded by the BMGF, and anchored by BISA, the project is a joint effort between BISA, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, Nepal Agricultural Research Council and Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture.

The project seeks to identify climate change-related risks and prioritize adaptation solutions at a granular scale for enabling adaptation at a scale.

Dr H Pathak, Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR highlighted that the country's agriculture became more resilient and emphasized the need to take the climate-resilient development path. He also noted the commitment of ICAR to stronger collaboration for more sustainable agriculture in the region.

Dr. S.K. Chaudhari, DDG (NRM) ICAR, Dr. Rajbir Singh. ADG (Agronomy, Agroforestry & Climate Change) and Dr. V. K. Singh, Director (ICAR-CRIDA) also participated in the launch workshop ACASA.

Dr A K Joshi, Managing Director, BMGF, Dr. P K Aggarwal, Project Leader, ACASA, Dr. Purvi Mehta, Director, BMGF along with the top officials heading agricultural research in the partner countries were present.

The workshop discussed on the approaches and methods to be followed to develop the Atlas considering the potential uses by various stakeholders.

(Source: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad)