Kerala govt launches CREEA to boost climate resilience in Agriculture

25 Jul 2023 CW Team

The initiative will kick off with a state-level inauguration of the program series at the EMC campus in Thiruvananthapuram on July 25, followed by district-level workshops. The program will be inaugurated by Kerala Agriculture Minister P Prasad, with Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty presiding over the event.

The series of programs, titled "Climate Resilience and Energy Efficiency in Agriculture" (CREEA), will be organised in collaboration with ASAR, a climate research and communications organisation, and Equinoct, which specialises in energy efficiency-related research and action.

These programs aim not only to help stakeholders develop strategies to combat the climate crisis but also to highlight available schemes that support and fund efforts towards achieving climate justice. The government emphasises the need for such intervention in Kerala's agriculture sector due to its vulnerability to climate change, coastal location, steep inclines along the Western Ghats, and highly dense urban areas.

Kerala has been experiencing an increasing frequency of extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and storms, resulting in significant economic losses for the state. To address the climate crisis, it is crucial to enhance the adaptive capacity and resilience of key sectors in the state.

Given that agriculture covers about 60 per cent of the land area and supports approximately 17 per cent of the state's population, it has been heavily impacted by the climate crisis. Furthermore, agriculture is a significant contributor to climate change, accounting for 18 per cent of India's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while in Kerala; it contributes to 7 per cent of the total GHG emissions.

To mitigate the sector's contributions to GHG emissions, the government aims to improve energy efficiency and climate resilience in agriculture. EMC and DoAFW believe that inclusive and participatory interventions can strengthen the resilience of the agriculture sector to the climate crisis.

The workshops will also introduce participants to various national and state-level schemes and funding opportunities that promote climate resilience. These schemes are expected to create livelihood opportunities and improve the livelihoods of those in the agriculture sector. Additionally, the workshops will identify potential model projects that can be implemented in Local Self Governments (LSGs) to enhance climate resilience, and a report with all project ideas will be submitted to the government for consideration.

The Kerala government has taken decisive action to improve energy efficiency and address the challenges posed by climate change. To achieve this, the government plans to conduct extensive consultation and awareness programs for elected representatives and agricultural officials across the state. These programs will be organised by the Energy Management Centre (EMC) and the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DoAFW), as stated in a release by the state government.The initiative will kick off with a state-level inauguration of the program series at the EMC campus in Thiruvananthapuram on July 25, followed by district-level workshops. The program will be inaugurated by Kerala Agriculture Minister P Prasad, with Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty presiding over the event.The series of programs, titled Climate Resilience and Energy Efficiency in Agriculture (CREEA), will be organised in collaboration with ASAR, a climate research and communications organisation, and Equinoct, which specialises in energy efficiency-related research and action.These programs aim not only to help stakeholders develop strategies to combat the climate crisis but also to highlight available schemes that support and fund efforts towards achieving climate justice. The government emphasises the need for such intervention in Kerala's agriculture sector due to its vulnerability to climate change, coastal location, steep inclines along the Western Ghats, and highly dense urban areas.Kerala has been experiencing an increasing frequency of extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and storms, resulting in significant economic losses for the state. To address the climate crisis, it is crucial to enhance the adaptive capacity and resilience of key sectors in the state.Given that agriculture covers about 60 per cent of the land area and supports approximately 17 per cent of the state's population, it has been heavily impacted by the climate crisis. Furthermore, agriculture is a significant contributor to climate change, accounting for 18 per cent of India's total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while in Kerala; it contributes to 7 per cent of the total GHG emissions.To mitigate the sector's contributions to GHG emissions, the government aims to improve energy efficiency and climate resilience in agriculture. EMC and DoAFW believe that inclusive and participatory interventions can strengthen the resilience of the agriculture sector to the climate crisis.The workshops will also introduce participants to various national and state-level schemes and funding opportunities that promote climate resilience. These schemes are expected to create livelihood opportunities and improve the livelihoods of those in the agriculture sector. Additionally, the workshops will identify potential model projects that can be implemented in Local Self Governments (LSGs) to enhance climate resilience, and a report with all project ideas will be submitted to the government for consideration.