How Climate-Resilient Farming is Helping Farmers in Jharkhand

 

For farmers in Jharkhand, the arrival of the monsoon brings both hope and uncertainty. Rain is important for farming, but the weather is often uncertain. Sometimes, there are long dry spells or El Niño conditions that leave fields dry. This makes farming risky and affects farmers’ incomes.

To fight these challenges, a positive change is happening. Top NGOs in Jharkhand are helping farmers adopt Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA). These practices are designed to protect crops from extreme weather, save natural resources, and give farmers confidence that farming can still provide them with a secure future.

What is Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA)?

Climate Resilient Agriculture is a complete approach designed to ensure the sustainable use of a given ecosystem’s natural resources, incorporating both crop and livestock production systems. Its main goal is to maintain or even increase farm production, even when the climate is changing.

CRA includes:

• Using fertilizers in a  limited quantities 
• Managing pests without harming the soil with methods like integrated pest management
• Conserving soil moisture
• Saving and reusing water through better irrigation methods like drip and sprinkler
• Preparing land in smarter ways to reduce risks

These steps not only help farmers deal with droughts or heavy rains but also improve soil health and make farming more sustainable in the long run.

Tackling Drought with CRA-Based Strategies

1. Growing Drought-Resistant & Rainfed Crops

State Agriculture Universities (SAUs) have invested extensively in R&D to create crops that can survive under low rainfall and drought-prone conditions, which help farmers continue farming during droughts and reduce the chances of losing everything to bad weather.

2. Water Management

Water is the most important factor in farming. To use it wisely, farmers are encouraged to:

• Follow the idea of “more crop per drop”, which means using water carefully to get better results.
• Collect and store rainwater through rainwater harvesting.
• Use modern methods like drip and sprinkler irrigation to save water and reduce waste.
• Lower the losses incurred through direct evaporation by scheduling irrigation when evaporation rates are lowest, generally at dawn and dusk.
• Adopt soil moisture conservation methods to help the soil retain water longer.

3. Balanced Fertilizer Use

Healthy soil makes farms more resilient. To improve soil quality:

• Farmers are advised to use organic fertilizers like vermicompost and Farm Yard Manure (FYM).
• Adding biofertilizers helps crops absorb nutrients better and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
• These methods also increase the soil’s ability to hold water, which helps during dry spells.
• They are trained on techniques like System of Crop Intensification(SCI) which can boost more yields in small parcels of land. 

4. Applications of Anti-transpirants

Crops lose most of their water through transpiration from leaves. By using anti-transpirant sprays like 2% potassium nitrate, farmers can reduce this water loss and help plants survive in dry conditions.

Final Thoughts

NGOs like WOTR play an important role in empowering Jharkhand’s farmers to face drought with confidence. These methods protect crops, improve incomes, and make farming more secure.

In the long run, CRA practices ensure that farming in Jharkhand remains sustainable, even in the face of unpredictable weather. With the support of top NGOs, farmers are finding new hope and building resilience for the future.