Climate Change & Adaptation Orissa

Local Adaptation Practices to Climate Change

Pranab R Choudhury

What is Adaptation?


Adjustments, whether passive, reactive or anticipatory, that are proposed as a means for ameliorating the anticipated adverse consequences associated with climate change Smith et. al (2000)




These adjustments can happen in the ecological, social or economic systems (IPCC 2001)

Adaptation?



Adaptation to a changing climate means myriad things in different ecosystems and economies. It means… – – –

building boats that can serve as schools for Bangladeshi children, planting drought-resistant crops in Africa, constructing a Canadian bridge a few feet higher to allow ships to pass below, – planting more trees in Chicago to cool residents during a blistering summer


It works through – – – –

Addressing the situation of most vulnerable Poverty Reduction Risk spreading by income diversification Respecting rights and collective security s

Why Adaptation?






Increased and intensified vulnerability due to Climate Change Multiplying Risk More burden on poor and vulnerable Mitigation not the only answer, because of the effects happened or happening Traditional & Concurrent Occurrence at different level and by different stakeholders

Type of Adaptations



Adaptations to What, by Whom & How Gradual or abrupt change – Easy to adapt – Requires large/state interventions




State/planned and Community/local/autonomus – Embankments, Irrigation, WDP, NREGA – House construction, farming practice, food habits,




Short-term and Long-term adaptations – Changing variety to time of sowing – Crop-insurance, change in farming system, land use




Technical and Traditional – Genetic Engineering – Tribal Terraces

Orissa Context : Increased Vulnerabilities










Increased frequency and intensity of extreme events – Floods, Droughts etc. Increased flow in rivers State’s location and Geomorphology Impact on food, health, habitations with present context of economic development Impact on the poorest and vulnerable

Orissa Context : Local Adaptations


History and Traditions – State


Kathjodi embankment, Sagars/WHS in South/Western Orissa

– Community











Tribal terraces, agro-biodiversity, coastal NRM –kandha, pokhari, jor flood mounds, Kutumb Panthi Growing pulses after flood recedes in Odisha’s delta Building terraces (jhola) to grow paddy in Koraput Growing different crops, varieties on different micro-situations in Hills Switching between ‘bada’ and ‘chhota’ mandia in Koraput Developing Kata, Munda, Bandha in Western Orissa to combat drought Shifting cultivation to raise food on tropical leached hill slopes

Present Approaches – Technology : SRI, Crop diversifications – State Programs : NREGA, WDP, Irrigation

State Adaptations


Relief mindset? – Rs. 5387 cr was spent on all schemes for irrigation development, agriculture, horticulture, dairy development, animal husbandry, water conservation and rural development during the X Five Year Plan (planned outlay - Rs 7379 Cr ) – During 2002-06, Allotment & Expenditure under CRF/NFCR/NCCF were Rs 10596 & Rs 6677 Cr






Sectoral Approach Target driven Political economy

Importance of Local Adaptation


Local/community/traditional measures/practices Vs Imposed/State/ Technical adaptation measures – In the context of vulnerability – In the context of viability – In the context of sustainability




Increased impact of Flood & Drought – Transformation of flood-tolerant to flood-vulnerable livelihoods – Changing food basket and social capital in drought context

Appreciating Local Adaptations









Need to scout and understand Need to document and disseminate Need to advocate Need to refine and integrate