Agri-Ikigai to mitigate climate change effects, increase farmers income

Agri-Ikigai has identified 13 key action points, including Direct Seeded Rice, seed treatment, crop rotation to mitigate climate change effects and increase farmer’s income. Ikigai, a Japanese technique, talks about doing things that bring joy, meaning, and a sense of contribution.

The Nudge Institute has built a framework for agriculture in India based on Ikigai, with a view to offering benefits to all the stakeholders - farmers, consumers, and environment. After talking to over 70 organisations, which include private companies and civil society outfits, the Agri-lkigai report distils 13 key action points, which require immediate attention to mitigate the challenges posed by climate change while helping farmers get more income and consumers get better food.

The 13 action points include Direct Seeded Rice, Seed Treatment, Bio-stimulants, Large Farm Ponds (Non-Plastic Lining), Integrated Pest Management, Crop rotation, and Zero Tillage. The report, prepared by the Transforming Agriculture for Smallholder Farmers (TASF) programme at the institute, aims to double income and reduce income variability for 10 million smallholder farmers in "a financially and environmentally sustainable manner". By taking the concept to stakeholders, it aspires to do this by identifying and developing innovative interventions business models.

"Smallholder farmers, who account for 27 per cent of the farming population and cultivate 25 per cent of the arable land, face a host of barriers to increasing their incomes. The list includes use of non-scientific practices, the presence of high input and labour costs, and the lack of good market access," says Ravi Trivedi, who leads the Agriculture Practice at The Nudge Institute.

To test the points made in the report, the institute is doing a couple of pilots in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. "We are working with about 300 farmers to study the benefits of the Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) and will come out with a report at the end of the study," he said.

DSR, an alternative method to transplanting, will use less water and reduce the crop cycle as it doesn't require raising nurseries. With appropriate weed control it can significantly reduce emissions and address labour shortage.

"Methane emission is one of the biggest contributors to global warming and DSR leads to a reduction in these emissions. DSR saves up to 25 per cent of water because flooding of fields is not required. It can save up to 27 per cent of energy (diesel consumption) as it doesn't require water for field preparation, nursery raising, and puddling," said the report.