Farmers in dryland regions are highly vulnerable to rainfall variability. This vulnerability is u... more Farmers in dryland regions are highly vulnerable to rainfall variability. This vulnerability is unequal, as it is mediated by biophysical and social factors. Implementing policies for climate resilience requires identification of farmers who are most vulnerable to extreme events like dry spells. We develop a novel approach by conceptualizing dry spell vulnerability at the farm scale in terms of monsoon crop water deficit. Using inputs of weather, terrain, soil properties, land-use-land-cover, crop properties, and cadastral maps, our tool models an hourly soil water balance at 30 m × 30 m resolution and maps the crop water deficit under rainfed conditions. This is a good indicator of the relative sensitivity of farmers to dry spells and allows prioritization of interventions within the focus region. Our tool, developed and deployed within the Maharashtra State Project on Climate-Resilient Agriculture, is iteratively calibrated and refined. We present the result of one such iteration ...
In the semi-arid lands of southern Kenya, a dynamic process of farmer-led irrigation has develope... more In the semi-arid lands of southern Kenya, a dynamic process of farmer-led irrigation has developed over the past two decades. It is characterised by short-term agreements to access land and water. Resident and migrant farmers, capital providers and local landowners have engaged in diverse partnerships to benefit from water and land along the Olkeriai sand river. This study aims to unravel which actors and motives drive the resulting highly dynamic forms of irrigation. Surveys, in-depth interviews and mapping exercises with farmers, capital providers and landowners were conducted over a period of 1.5 years. The results show that involved actors favour short-term lease and partnership arrangements and farmers frequently change fields along the river or leave the area and return. It is primarily the migrant farmers and capital providers who take decisions on when and where to move. They are informed by their experience with production factors, financial gains and losses, partner relati...
This paper analyses the ground-level impact of the national rural drinking water policy in Mahara... more This paper analyses the ground-level impact of the national rural drinking water policy in Maharashtra. It observes that compared to what is reflected in the national rural drinking water programme database, the drinking water coverage status is poorer on the ground and scheme failures are more widespread. The case studies show that the causes of scheme failures have largely remained unchanged in spite of the changes in policy regimes. Poor capacity and expertise of state agencies are the main cause of poor outcomes and improving them will require infusion of new knowledge and practices. National policy can assist state agencies by creating avenues for educational and research institutions to work with the latter in various monitoring, evaluation, design and validation roles.
Farmers in dryland regions are highly vulnerable to rainfall variability. This vulnerability is u... more Farmers in dryland regions are highly vulnerable to rainfall variability. This vulnerability is unequal, as it is mediated by biophysical and social factors. Implementing policies for climate resilience requires identification of farmers who are most vulnerable to extreme events like dry spells. We develop a novel approach by conceptualizing dry spell vulnerability at the farm scale in terms of monsoon crop water deficit. Using inputs of weather, terrain, soil properties, land-use-land-cover, crop properties, and cadastral maps, our tool models an hourly soil water balance at 30 m × 30 m resolution and maps the crop water deficit under rainfed conditions. This is a good indicator of the relative sensitivity of farmers to dry spells and allows prioritization of interventions within the focus region. Our tool, developed and deployed within the Maharashtra State Project on Climate-Resilient Agriculture, is iteratively calibrated and refined. We present the result of one such iteration ...
In the semi-arid lands of southern Kenya, a dynamic process of farmer-led irrigation has develope... more In the semi-arid lands of southern Kenya, a dynamic process of farmer-led irrigation has developed over the past two decades. It is characterised by short-term agreements to access land and water. Resident and migrant farmers, capital providers and local landowners have engaged in diverse partnerships to benefit from water and land along the Olkeriai sand river. This study aims to unravel which actors and motives drive the resulting highly dynamic forms of irrigation. Surveys, in-depth interviews and mapping exercises with farmers, capital providers and landowners were conducted over a period of 1.5 years. The results show that involved actors favour short-term lease and partnership arrangements and farmers frequently change fields along the river or leave the area and return. It is primarily the migrant farmers and capital providers who take decisions on when and where to move. They are informed by their experience with production factors, financial gains and losses, partner relati...
This paper analyses the ground-level impact of the national rural drinking water policy in Mahara... more This paper analyses the ground-level impact of the national rural drinking water policy in Maharashtra. It observes that compared to what is reflected in the national rural drinking water programme database, the drinking water coverage status is poorer on the ground and scheme failures are more widespread. The case studies show that the causes of scheme failures have largely remained unchanged in spite of the changes in policy regimes. Poor capacity and expertise of state agencies are the main cause of poor outcomes and improving them will require infusion of new knowledge and practices. National policy can assist state agencies by creating avenues for educational and research institutions to work with the latter in various monitoring, evaluation, design and validation roles.
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Papers by Pooja Prasad