Odisha Govt Urged For Encouraging Eco-Friendly Farming Practices To Reduce Carbon Footprint

Bhubaneswar: It is high time Odisha government incentivised the farmers for adopting environmentally friendly practices which can help mitigate the effects of climate change, said development economist Satya S Tripathi.

Speaking at the Foundation Day lecture of the Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD) titled “Odisha @2036 – Leveraging Pathways to a Green Economy Transition,” on Sunday, Tripathi said India stands committed to reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 according to its Nationally Determined Contribution.

“The agriculture sector has the potential to both emit and sequester carbon – the process of storing carbon in soil. The farmers, who practise natural and organic farming, help a long way in carbon sequestration. Such farmers should be incentivised,” said Tripathy, who is also the secretary general of Global Alliance for Sustainable Planet.

Citing the Andhra Pradesh model, he said the farmers in the state are paid Rs 40,000 per hectare of land for their contribution to checking emission and increasing soil fertility and thus help mitigating the impacts of climate change.

“We should learn from the tribals, who are the most intuitive, conscious and earth-bound people. Their agricultural practices have a lot of significance not only to check the carbon footprints, but to ensure food security and sustainable livelihoods. We must keep in mind that the planet is not only for the humans, but for all 80 lakh species on the planet,” Tripathi underlined.

Jagadananda, co-founder of CYSD, a civil society organisation in Bhubaneswar, said they have spearheaded a comprehensive Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA) initiative in Odisha, impacting over 600,000 individuals across 1,133 villages in 27 blocks of 10 districts.

“Our CRA initiatives are an extension of our commitment to empowering communities and building resilience against climate change impacts. By integrating traditional wisdom with modern innovations, our efforts aim at promoting sustainable livelihoods and food security for vulnerable communities in Odisha and contributing to creating a resilient Earth,” he added.

The CRA focuses on empowering small and marginalised farmers in tribal-dominated areas, covering 1.06 lakh small and marginal farmers, out of which, 83% are women and 72% belong to indigenous communities. Around 1,600 champion farmers are models for the entire farming community.

The initiative has led 15,638 farmers to take up natural farming practices in 6,326 hectare. Besides, climate-resilient agricultural practices have been implemented in 62,500 acre by 58,000 households.

Its key components include promotion of mixed and intercropping, sustainable agronomic practices and soil conservation, crop diversification and local seed production, promotion of green manure and bio inputs, renewable energy and irrigation, livestock promotion and ethno-veterinary practices.

Chandra Sagaria from Kundura, Kaberi Durua and Raimati Durua of Kerimity under Kundura block in Koraput district were felicitated for their contribution to conservation of soil and forest on the occasion.