Informatics Publishing Limited

C. A. Rama Rao ¹, B. M. K. Raju ¹, A. V. M. Subba Rao ¹, K. V. Rao ¹, V. U. M. Rao ¹, Kausalya Ramachandran ¹, B. Venkateswarlu ², A. K. Sikka ³, M. Srinivasa Rao ¹, M. Maheswari ¹, Ch. Srinivasa Rao ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad 500 059, IN
2 Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani 431 462, IN
3 Natural Resource Management Division, ICAR, New Delhi 110 012, IN

Abstract

Assessing vulnerability to climate change and variability is an important first step in evolving appropriate adaptation strategies to changing climate. Such an analysis also helps in targeting adaptation investments, specific to more vulnerable regions. Adopting the definition of vulnerability given by IPCC, vulnerability was assessed for 572 rural districts of India. Thirty eight indicators reflecting sensitivity, adaptive capacity and exposure were chosen to construct the composite vulnerability index. Climate projections of the PRECIS model for A1B scenario for the period 2021-2050 were considered to capture the future climate. The data on these indicators were normalized based on the nature of relationship. They were then combined into three indices for sensitivity, exposure and adaptive capacity, which were then averaged with weights given by experts, to obtain the relative vulnerability index. Based on the index, all the districts were divided into five categories with equal number of districts. One more district was added to 'very high' and 'high' categories. The analysis showed that districts with higher levels of vulnerability are located in the western and peninsular India. It is also observed that the highly fertile Indo-Gangetic Plains are relatively more sensitive, but less vulnerable because of higher adaptive capacity and lower exposure.

Keywords

Agriculture, Adaptive Capacity and Exposure, Climate Change, Sensitivity, Vulnerability.

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R. Nagarjuna Kumar ¹, C. A. Rama Rao ¹, B. M. K. Raju ¹, K. Sreedevi Shankar ¹, G. Nirmala ¹, K. Ravi Shankar ¹, K. Sammi Reddy ¹, B. Sailaja ²

Affiliations
1 Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Santosh Nagar, Hyderabad (Telangana), IN
2 Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Rajendra Nagar, Hyderabad (Telangana), IN

Abstract

India registered remarkable economic growth during the first decade of this millennium. Ironically, during this period, a vast section of population remained undernourished. The annual economic losses associated with malnutrition have been estimated at 3 per cent of India’s gross domestic product (GDP). Experience shown that increasing food production alone cannot address the issue of malnutrition, unless there is a nutrition focus and the poorest have access to a source of diversified and nutritious foods. Knowledge and information are important factors to ensure food and nutrition security. The problem of malnutrition can be better addressed through a innovative ICT led extension systems. Rapid advances in data acquisition and management, modeling, computation power, and information technology provide the opportunity to harness this knowledge in new and powerful ways to achieve more productive and sustainable agricultural systems. Examples of this technology include mobile phones, social media, tablets, internet, email, global positioning systems (GPS) etc. In this paper we employ the use cases and our collective experiences with agricultural systems and Information and communication technology (ICT) to describe about data and knowledge products need to improve food security and better nutrition.

Keywords

Nutrition Security, Mobile Phones, GPS, Knowledge.

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B. M. K. Raju ¹, C. A. Rama Rao ¹, K. V. Rao ¹, Srinivasarao ¹, Josily Samuel ¹, A. V. M. Subba Rao ¹, M. Osman ¹, M. Srinivasa Rao ¹, N. Ravi Kumar ¹, R. Nagarjuna Kumar ¹, V. V. Sumanth Kumar ², K. A. Gopinath ¹, N. Swapna ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santoshnagar, Hyderabad 500 059, IN
2 International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, Hyderabad 502 324, IN

Abstract

The projected demand of maize production in India in 2050 is 4–5 times of current production. With the scope for area expansion being limited, there is need for enhancement of yield. This calls for identifying areas where huge unrealized yield potential exists. With a view to address the issue, the present study delineates homogeneous agro-climatic zones for maize production system in India taking district as a unit and using the factors production, viz. climate, soil, season and irrigated area under the crop. There are 146 districts in India that grow maize as a major crop. They were divided into 26 zones using multivariate cluster analysis. Study of variation in yield between districts within a zone vis-a-vis crop management practices adopted in those districts was found useful in targeting the yield gaps. These findings can have direct relevance to the maize farmers and district level administrators.

Keywords

Agro-Climatic Zone, Climate, Cluster, Irrigation, Potential Yield, Yield Gap.

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