Year: 2025 | Month: May | Volume: 12 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 749-764
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20250579
Climate Resilience in Practice: A Study of Adaptive Agricultural Strategies in Sarubujjili Mandal, Andhra Pradesh
Prof. B. Sudhakar Reddy1, Dr. V. Mallikarjuna Naik2
1Professor & Director, ICSSR – SRC, Osmania University, Hyderabad
2ICSSR Post Doctor Fellow (PDF), CESS, Hyderabad
Corresponding Author: Prof. B. Sudhakar Reddy
ABSTRACT
Agricultural communities across India are facing increasing vulnerability to climate change, with erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events posing significant risks to crop yields and rural livelihoods. Sarubujjili Mandal, located in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, is emblematic of this crisis. Characterized by a predominantly agrarian economy, the region is frequently affected by floods, cyclones, and inconsistent monsoon patterns, making it a critical case for studying climate-resilient agriculture. This study examines the adaptive strategies practiced in Sarubujjili Mandal in response to these climate-related challenges, with particular reference to the interventions made under the National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), coordinated by CRIDA (Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture) and supported by ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research). According to NICRA and CRIDA reports, Sarubujjili Mandal includes several highly climate-vulnerable villages such as Kondavalasa and Isakalapalem, where the impacts of climate change, particularly flooding and cyclonic activity, are acutely felt. These villages have witnessed frequent inundation of low-lying agricultural fields due to overflowing hill streams and excessive monsoon rains. During events such as Cyclone Gulab (2021), thousands of acres of standing paddy crops in these areas were submerged, leading to major economic setbacks for small and marginal farmers.
To address these vulnerabilities, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Amadalavalasa, under the NICRA initiative, implemented a comprehensive climate resilience program in Sarubujjili Mandal. The project interventions cover four key modules: natural resource management, crop production, livestock and fisheries, and institutional mechanisms. In the crop production module, KVK introduced flood-tolerant and short-duration paddy varieties such as RGL-2537 and MTU-1061, which were tested and adopted across nearly 50 hectares in flood-prone villages like Kondavalasa and Isakalapalem. Additionally, the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method was promoted to enhance water-use efficiency and crop resilience. Under natural resource management, community-based efforts facilitated the construction of drainage channels and the establishment of small-scale water harvesting structures. These initiatives were instrumental in improving drainage in waterlogged fields and conserving soil moisture during dry spells.
In the livestock and fisheries sector, adaptive measures included preventive vaccination campaigns, improved fodder management, and the creation of fodder banks to ensure feed availability during extreme weather events. Institutional interventions such as setting up custom hiring centers, seed banks, and weather-based agro-advisories provided crucial support to farming households. These services helped farmers in both Kondavalasa and Isakalapalem plan agricultural operations based on real-time climate information.
Preliminary findings indicate that farmers who adopted NICRA-supported practices in these villages experienced increased yield stability (15–20%) and reduced input costs (10–12%) during climate-stressed periods. Moreover, community awareness and preparedness for future climate shocks have significantly improved. This study demonstrates that targeted, participatory, and location-specific interventions guided by national programs like NICRA and grounded in scientific research from institutions like CRIDA can enhance the resilience of vulnerable farming communities. The experience of Kondavalasa & Isakalapalem serves as a scalable model for other regions confronting similar climate risks, reaffirming the importance of integrating local knowledge with scientific innovation for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.
Keywords: Climate Resilience, Adaptive Agriculture, Sustainable Farming, Agro-ecological Practices, Community Adaptation, Crop Diversification, Livelihood Security, Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), Institutional Support, Traditional Knowledge
[PDF Full Text]