Nadia : In an effort to transform the agricultural landscape and build a sustainable food system, SwitchON Foundation, supported by Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, hosted a District Consultation on Climate-Resilient Agriculture in Nadia. This convening brought together Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), government officials, Self Help Groups, Financial Institutions, Market stakeholders, civil society actors, and progressive farmers to co-develop a district-specific framework that integrates climate-smart practices across the farm-to-fork ecosystem.
Building on
the insights from the introductory dialogue, stakeholders examined the multifaceted
problems that threaten Nadia’s agricultural stability. Excessive groundwater
irrigation has led to widespread arsenic contamination—jeopardizing both human
health and crop safety. Concurrently, unpredictable rainfall and shifting
monsoon patterns have exacerbated water scarcity, disrupting traditional jute
retting practices and accelerating soil degradation. Recently, hailstorms in
Hanskhali underscored the region’s vulnerability, inflicting crop damage and
diminishing produce quality.
At the same
time, shrinking pastureland with acute issues such as Hybrid seeds have reduced
both the quantity and quality of fodder, mechanized paddy cultivation has led
to a shortage of paddy straw, and excessive pesticide use is poisoning
livestock which further strained livestock farming, leaving many farmers
without reliable fodder. Compounding these environmental stresses, inadequate
infrastructure and poor market connectivity prevent farmers from transporting
and storing produce efficiently, trapping them in a cycle of low revenue.
Finally, heavy chemical input shave, undermining long-term fertility and contaminating
groundwater—an issue that not only threatens agricultural sustainability but
also poses significant public health risks. Together, these linked challenges
highlight why a coordinated, climate-resilient approach is urgently needed.
Recognizing these
interrelated problems, participants shifted to collaborative planning—focusing
not just on individual farm practices but on reimagining the entire food
system. Stakeholders discussed how crops are grown, stored, processed, and
brought to market, with particular emphasis on climate-resilient techniques,
renewable energy, resource efficiency, and women’s leadership. This collective
dialogue yielded several key insights, captured in the following stakeholder
quotes:
“Jute cultivation
in Nadia is increasingly at risk due to the twin challenges of climate variability
and water scarcity. Changing monsoon patterns have made water availability
uncertain, and with ponds disappearing and river retting damaging the ecosystem,
we must urgently identify new water sources and adopt technologies for eco-friendly
jute processing. Micro-level planning at the village scale is essential to
sustain livelihoods and protect the environment.” said by the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Nadia, West Bengal.
“It is
essential to co-design solutions with communities, and this platform allows
diverse stakeholders to come together for systemic transformation,” said Ekta Jaju, Executive Director,
SwitchON Foundation.
Following
these reflections, participants engaged in plenary discussions and thematic
breakout sessions to co-create actionable strategies. These strategies centered
on advancing climate-smart and natural farming techniques, scaling up
decentralized renewable energy in agriculture, enhancing water- use efficiency
and soil health, strengthening FPOs for improved market access, and ensuring
active participation of women across agricultural value chains with a
supportive ecosystem provided by Financial institutions, Market and government
bodies.
Drawing on
the key insights above, stakeholders identified Hanskhali block as the ideal pilot
site to refine and test climate-resilient interventions. Hanskhali faces severe
arsenic contamination and groundwater depletion, while high monocropping rates
leave crops highly vulnerable to weather volatility. The recent hailstorm
further damaged local harvests, and poor infrastructure and limited market
access continue to undermine farmers’ incomes from excessive synthetic inputs
and overall low productivity trap households in a cycle of poverty.
Yet
Hanskhali also presents distinct opportunities: a growing organic-farming
movement—with certified practitioners already in place—and active livestock
rearing that can be integrated into diversifying farmers income, increasing
climate resilience and increasing farmer self sustainability. Moreover, the
existing ON-FARM FPCs are practicing organic cultivation with certification
under the NPOP & NOP. Further, they practice traditional seed cultivation,
and the planned government-supported integrated farming cluster promises to
bolster local infrastructure. These factors position Hanskhali to become an organic-agriculture
hub, making it the logical next step for piloting and scaling climate-resilient
solutions.
To translate
these insights and site-specific strengths into concrete action, participants agreed
to launch a micro-level pilot survey in Hanskhali block. The survey will
identify precise local challenges and opportunities for climate-smart
interventions, informing a joint proposal that outlines a clear roadmap with
defined responsibilities.
As part of
this roadmap, the ATMA Committee will oversee the monitoring of residue-free
farming practices, ensuring alignment with sustainable agricultural standards
and providing farmers with the necessary support to transition to eco-friendly
methods. Throughout the implementation process, SwitchON Foundation will serve
as a facilitator and bridge among all partners—coordinating activities,
promoting knowledge exchange, and integrating scalable solutions. By anchoring
these efforts in Hanskhali’s unique context, Nadia’s pilot will generate a
replicable model for transformative food system change at the grassroots level.
This initiative exemplifies SwitchON Foundation’s continued commitment to building climate-resilient communities through innovation, grassroots engagement, and systemic change in agriculture. Supported by Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, the district-level consultation and subsequent Hanskhali pilot form part of a broader mission to catalyze policies, partnerships, and practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience across India’s food systems. By linking each phase—from problem identification to collaborative insights, site selection, and concrete action—this initiative paves a clear path forward for sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture in West Bengal.
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