Local Adaptation Practices to

Climate Change

Pranab R Choudhury
 What is Adaptation?

Adjustments, whether passive,
reactive or anticipatory, that
are proposed as a means for
ameliorating the anticipated
adverse consequences
associated with climate change
Smith et. al (2000)

These adjustments can happen

in the ecological, social or
economic systems
(IPCC 2001)
Adaptation?

Adaptation to a changing climate means myriad things in
different ecosystems and economies.

It means…
– building boats that can serve as schools for Bangladeshi children,
– planting drought-resistant crops in Africa,
– constructing a Canadian bridge a few feet higher to allow ships
to pass below,
– planting more trees in Chicago to cool residents during a
blistering summer

It works through
– Addressing the situation of most vulnerable
– Poverty Reduction
– Risk spreading by income diversification
– Respecting rights and collective security s
Why Adaptation?

Increased and intensified vulnerability due
to Climate Change

Multiplying Risk

More burden on poor and vulnerable

Mitigation not the only answer, because of
the effects happened or happening

Traditional & Concurrent Occurrence at
different level and by different
stakeholders
Type of Adaptations

Adaptations to What, by Whom & How

Gradual or abrupt change
– Easy to adapt
– Requires large/state interventions

State/planned and Community/local/autonomus
– Embankments, Irrigation, WDP, NREGA
– House construction, farming practice, food habits,

Short-term and Long-term adaptations
– Changing variety to time of sowing
– Crop-insurance, change in farming system, land use

Technical and Traditional
– Genetic Engineering
– Tribal Terraces
Orissa Context : Increased
Vulnerabilities

Increased frequency and intensity

of extreme events – Floods,
Droughts etc.

Increased flow in rivers

State’s location and
Geomorphology

Impact on food, health,
habitations with present context
of economic development

Impact on the poorest and
vulnerable
 Orissa Context :
Local Adaptations

History and Traditions
– State

Kathjodi embankment, Sagars/WHS in South/Western Orissa
– Community

Tribal terraces, agro-biodiversity, coastal NRM –kandha,
pokhari, jor flood mounds, Kutumb Panthi

Growing pulses after flood recedes in Odisha’s delta

Building terraces (jhola) to grow paddy in Koraput

Growing different crops, varieties on different micro-situations
in Hills

Switching between ‘bada’ and ‘chhota’ mandia in Koraput

Developing Kata, Munda, Bandha in Western Orissa to combat
drought

Shifting cultivation to raise food on tropical leached hill slopes

Present Approaches
– Technology : SRI, Crop diversifications
– State Programs : NREGA, WDP, Irrigation
State Adaptations

Relief mindset?
– Rs. 5387 cr was spent on all schemes for
irrigation development, agriculture, horticulture,
dairy development, animal husbandry, water
conservation and rural development during the
X Five Year Plan (planned outlay - Rs 7379 Cr )
– During 2002-06, Allotment & Expenditure under
CRF/NFCR/NCCF were Rs 10596 & Rs 6677 Cr

Sectoral Approach

Target driven

Political economy
Importance of Local
Adaptation

Local/community/traditional
measures/practices Vs
Imposed/State/ Technical
adaptation measures
– In the context of vulnerability
– In the context of viability
– In the context of sustainability

Increased impact of Flood & Drought
– Transformation of flood-tolerant to
flood-vulnerable livelihoods
– Changing food basket and social capital
in drought context
Appreciating Local Adaptations

Need to scout and

understand

Need to document and
disseminate

Need to advocate

Need to refine and integrate