C_SUCSes Project – The Climate Smart Relay Technology introduced by BARI under the C-SUCSeS project is revolutionizing farming practices in Bangladesh. Many farmers in Pabna are now adopting these sustainable methods, contributing not only to the prosperity of their farms but also to the economic success of their families.
This widely recognized technology involves sowing leguminous crops like field pea, lentil, and grass pea in the rice fields 15-20 days before harvesting the T-Aman rice. After the rice harvest, the straw is left in the field to boost soil fertility, promoting overall soil and crop health. The attached photo vividly showcases a farmer cultivating chickpeas using this revolutionary method. Farmers are now achieving extensive crop yields without the need for extra cultivation, time, labor, or financial expenses.
The C-SUCSeS project, a collaboration between the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), and the SAARC Development Fund (SDF), is revolutionizing farming practices in South Asia
Not only this technology making a significant impact on agriculture, but it’s also empowering women through gender-inclusive practices.
About the project: The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and SAARC Development Fund (SDF) have launched a partnership for Scaling-up Climate Smart Agriculture in South Asia in 2021. The central objective of the partnership is to develop evidence-based strategies to collectively tackle the impact of climate change in South Asia.
Agriculture has historically been risky business, and it is becoming riskier due to climate change and its associated impacts on agri-food systems. According to one estimate, the region could lose between 10-50 percent of crop production by end of the century due to global warming. Yet, the sector remains to be the main source of livelihood for over 50 percent of the population in South Asia. This reality calls for integrating climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies with overarching goal of ensuring food, nutrition, and livelihood security for millions of underprivileged and marginalized people living in the region.
The project will look at Climate Smart Agriculture technologies and practices in the context of farming systems that integrate benefits for adaptation, nutrition, and women and youth. The consortium has kicked-off with an initial pilot investment of about USD 3.1 million provided by IFAD, SAC, IFPRI and SDF. The partner organizations believe that the size of investment will grow in the coming years.
The partnership would focus on promoting sustainable and resilient agricultural intensification in South Asia through building the capacity of institutions and enhancing skills, to scale-up climate smart strategies and technologies.
The SDF board approved the Consortium for Scaling-up Climate Smart Agriculture in South Asia, with the total approved grant of USD 0.75 million (750,000). The implementing agencies of the SDF grant would be the leading government agencies of Afghanistan, Bhutan, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka that have a clear mandate in supporting the development of CSA technologies and their scaling-up through national systems, while SAARC Agriculture Centre will be the Lead Implementing Agency. The SDF-funded activities will target smallholder communities in selected agro-ecological zones of the target countries, those that are most vulnerable to the impact of climate change. The grant will also target researchers, extension workers, and policy makers at national level, complementing the effort supported through the IFAD grant in scaling-up the adoption of CSA technologies.
