Experts Push for Climate-Smart Agriculture to Strengthen Resilient Farming

Bhubaneswar: Emphasising the urgent need to make agriculture resilient to climate change, a State-Level Consultation on Climate Smart Agriculture brought together over 100 stakeholders at the Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre on Monday.

The consultation, organised by Passing Gifts, a subsidiary of Heifer International, served as a platform for farmers, experts, academicians and development practitioners to deliberate on sustainable and practical solutions for climate-resilient farming in Odisha.

With participation from over 106 stakeholders, the discussions focused on equipping smallholder farmers with strategies to cope with erratic weather patterns while improving productivity and livelihoods.

During the technical session, Susant Kumar Jata from the ICAR – Central Tuber Crops Research Institute highlighted the importance of climate-resilient tuber crops such as cassava, yam, taro and elephant foot yam. He noted that these crops are well-suited to adverse climatic conditions due to their low input requirements, resistance to drought and floods, and high nutritional value.

Agriculture expert Ambika Nanda underlined the role of integrated farming systems in building resilience, stating that diversification in agriculture can help farmers reduce risks and ensure more stable incomes.

Highlighting environmental concerns, Subash Sahu of the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology pointed to the declining soil health caused by excessive chemical fertiliser use. He stressed the need to promote sustainable and chemical-free farming practices to protect long-term agricultural productivity.

Adding a grassroots perspective, progressive farmer Susmita Mohanta from Keonjhar shared how farming, supported by proper training and knowledge, has enabled her to achieve economic independence and improved livelihood security.

Chinmayananda Pati also spoke on innovative practices such as the use of fly ash in agriculture, explaining its role in enhancing soil quality when used appropriately.

Addressing the gathering, Akshaya Biswal, Program Director (Odisha), Passing Gifts, said such consultations help bridge the gap between research and field-level implementation. He reiterated that climate-smart agriculture is key to ensuring resilience and sustainability in the face of changing climatic conditions.

The consultation concluded with a consensus on the need for collaborative action, knowledge sharing and adoption of innovative practices to strengthen climate-resilient farming systems across Odisha.