Rising temperatures, longer droughts, more severe storms, warming oceans, and recurring floods are already threatening global agriculture and food security. Most smallholder farmers in middle- and lowincome countries have limited abilities to respond and adapt to these climate risks. While highly vulnerable to climate change, agriculture is also a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. To strengthen the resilience of agriculture to changing climate, a two-pronged approach that supports adaptation – adjusting to actual or expected future climate change – and promotes mitigation – reducing greenhouse gases or enhancing accumulation and storage of GHG – is needed. Promoting these strategies at scale involves changing the behavior, strategies, and agricultural practices of millions of agricultural producers.
This brief discusses policy-level changes to enhance and strengthen the role and functioning of extension and advisory services (EAS) in addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation.
A very good policy document highlighting the dire need of the national governments of the developing countries of making appropriate policies coupled with required budgetary support to strengthen the functioning of EAS to mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, though the contribution of small farmers towards greenhouse gas emissions is low, they are more vulnerable and likely to bear the brunt of climate change.
To protect the interests of the small farmers and save them from climate change impact the developing nations including India must formulate good policies and allocate the required budgets necessary for effective functioning of EAS. The governments must take it as a wakeup call before it is too late to act.
I congratulate Dr. Rasheed Sulaiman V for bringing out very useful policy document on climate change and Agricultural extension and Advisory Services
This is one document I have read in recent times, which talks effectively about EAS in context of climate change. If EAS is not addressing the current needs, challenges, demands, other actors will jump in looking at the opportunity to work in this demand driven work. I congratulate Dr Rasheed for this insightful contribution having lot of practical take aways.