Climate Resilience Practice
- Burning of straw (crop residue or stubble left on the field after harvesting) is a common concern in many countries in Asia and the Pacific. Due to lack of low-cost, effective, and technically feasible approaches to utilize straw, farmers frequently burn the straw causing serious environmental and health problems, including from trans-boundary air pollution. Since 2018, CSAM has been implementing a regional initiative on integrated straw management through which positive results have been attained from pilot projects in China and Viet Nam, particularly in terms of offering suitable mechanization-based alternatives to burning of straw residue and effect on crop yield and farmers’ income. India has also joined the regional initiative as a knowledge sharing partner and hosted a study tour in 2019. This initiative is currently being expanded to Cambodia, Indonesia and Nepal.
- Conservation Agriculture has acquired increasing significance in recent times to address land degradation and declining yields in the agricultural sector. Its adoption is especially important for resource-poor smallholder farmers. Sustainable agricultural mechanization can play a key role in implementing the principles of Conservation Agriculture. In this context, in May 2019, CSAM co-organized a ‘Regional Training on Appropriate Scale Mechanization for Conservation Agriculture’, in collaboration with partners in Cambodia. This Regional Training was a follow-up to a ‘Regional Workshop on the Role of Mechanization in Strengthening Smallholders’ Resilience through Conservation Agriculture in Asia and the Pacific’ organized in 2018.
