In a significant move towards advancing climate-resilient and sustainable farming, a three-day inception workshop on Catalysing Transitions to low-emission rice-based systems in Kerala that is low-carbon rice farming, has started at the College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara. Notably, the event is organized by the International Rice Research Institute, Kerala Agricultural University, the Department of Agriculture, and the Irrigation Department.
Apparently, this workshop initiative is part of the Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization Project (KERA). It is being implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare with help from the World Bank. The key focus of the event is the promotion of low-carbon rice farming techniques, particularly alternate wetting and Drying (AWD), a water-saving tech by IRRI.
Project promotes low-carbon rice cultivation practices
The project promotes low-carbon rice farming in which the low-carbon rice cultivation practices will be promoted across 20,000 hectares of canal-irrigated wetlands in Palakkad district and kole lands in Thrissur, along with a vast goal of introducing Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) to incentivize substainable farming practices among farmers.
The workshop will offer a stage for farmers, agricultural scientists and implementing officials to discuss chances and strategies for escalating low-carbon rice farming. Eventually, it will take place on October 11 along with field visits and discussions initiated by the Agriculture Minister, intended to developing an action plan for escalating up low-carbon rice farming systems in the state.