Climate change and resilient dryland systems: experiences of ICRISAT in Asia and Africa

Abstract

The article reviews and summarizes the climate
\nchange mitigation and adaptation work undertaken
\nby ICRISAT. The effects of climate change are
\nalready being experienced in several parts of the
\nworld. Even though the effects of climate change will
\nbe felt over all kinds of agricultural production systems,
\nthey will be more pronounced in dryland areas
\nwhere agriculture is totally dependent on rainfall.
\nSimulation output analyses reveal that crop yield will
\ndecrease due to climate change and variability in drylands,
\nbut this can be mitigated in large parts by the
\napplication of existing knowledge on crop, soil and
\nwater management, and by re-targeting and redeployment
\nof the existing germplasms of the crops in
\nthe medium term (2010–2050). Integrated watershed
\nmanagement is an important tool to mitigate the
\nclimate change effects through soil conservation,
\nimproved water availability and other secondary
\nbenefits. Similarly, conservation agriculture practices
\nunder the integrated genetic and natural resources
\nmanagement strategy can help minimize the adverse
\neffects of climate change on dryland agricultural productivity.