Book of Extended summaries ISDA

International Conference on Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges &
Opportunities during 22-24, December 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad
Conclusion
The economics of demonstrated plot reveals that the net return is Rs 53780 ha -1 and the benefit
cost ratio is 2.64. The average rain water 3750 m 3 ha -1 was stored during the crop season while
the average rainfall was 934 mm. The area brought under rabi season were from 19.1 to 59.6
ha in rabi 2018-19, 25.30 to 67.6 ha in 2019-20 and 27.65 to 120.1 ha in 2020-21 by using
residual moisture. Keeping in view the aspects of conserving rainwater, sediment and nutrient
and minimizing irrigation requirement, 30–45 cm of bund height is suitable for rice fields.
T1-37 P-1416
Performance of Land Shaping as a Climate Smart Model for the
Sundarban
P. K. Garain 1 , C. K. Mondal 1 , A. Saha 1 and F. H. Rahman 2
1 Ramkrishna Ashram Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nimpith, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal – 743338,
India
2 ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Bhumi Vihar Complex, Block- GB,
Sector- III, Salt Lake, Kolkata -700097, West Bengal, India
Sundarban, the world’s largest contiguous stretch of mangrove forest, is highly vulnerable to
tropical cyclones, tidal surges and erratic distribution of rainfall, leading to intensive rain spells
and dry spells. The frequency of severe cyclonic storms is also increasing in the northern part
of Bay of Bengal. The last two decades has witnessed seven severe cyclones - Sidr, Nargis,
Bijli, Aila, Fani, Bulbul, Amphun and Yaas. High storm surge often breaches the river
embankment, forcing saline river water to inundate the inland. Intensive rainfall within short
period of time leads to prolonged submergence of the ill drained and low-lying crop fields
where long duration and low yielding traditional rice varieties are the only option. The winter
and summer seasons witness acute dearth of freshwater for irrigation, rendering huge areas to
remain fallow. Such climatic vagaries add anguish to the livelihood of the 4.5 million people
residing in the coastal Sundarbans, who primarily depend on agriculture and forest resources
for their sustenance. Poor economic return from farming forces the population to migrate to the
nearby towns, in search of alternate livelihood. To address such climatic vulnerabilities, a
project titled “National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture” (NICRA) was
implemented by Ramkrishna Ashram Krishi Vigyan Kendra (RAKVK), in collaboration with
Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (ICAR-CRIDA), Hyderabad and
Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ICAR-ATARI) Kolkata from 2011 to
2021, in the cyclone prone villages of Sundarbans (NICRA News, 2011). The present study
was aimed at comparing the performance of land shaping technology in the coastal Sundarbans
situation, both during climate stress and normal weather condition, against the traditional
farming practice.
100 | Page Resilience through land and water management interventions, water management and governance