1. Working in the field: Farmer-based
experimentation network in the IGP
CCAFS Theme 1
Adaptation Pathways under Progressive
Climate Change

2. Pilot project for on-farm participatory
climate change adaptation and
visualization

4. •Explore means of strengthening the link between
researchers and local farmers in the context of
adaptation to climate risks;
•Understand the role of existing seed systems in
enabling adaptation under changing production
constraints;
•Understand social and cultural barriers to adoption of
adapted landraces and varieties and explore effective
means of introducing new adapted landraces and
varieties taking into account these barriers.
The Project Aims at

5. What They Did

6. Cooperating Centres
DWR, Karnal, Haryana
IARI, RS, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar
PAU, Ludhiana, Punjab
BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

7. Plan
Baseline survey : Proforma to be prepared
Program implemented in participatory mode at four
sites, 10 locations at each site
Ten Varieties (HD 2329, PBW 343, DBW 17, WH711,
HUW 234, K9107, K 307, UP 262, HD 2733, KRL 19 and
local variety/landrance if any)- Seed supply by DWR
The minimum plot size will be 3m x 6m with three
replications, Line sowing with recommended package of
practices.

8. Plan
Parameters to be recorded date of sowing, tillers/ sq
metre, plant height, date of flowering, date of 75
percent maturity, thousand grain weight, number of
grains per spike, incidence of insect pests, yield
Yield loss to be compensated
Appoint Field Level Worker /JRF/SRF/RA

9. Plan
Inception Workshop and Awareness Program at all sites
Traveling Seminar during crop season

10. Varieties to be sown
Variety TGW Germination % Seed (g)
/18 sq m
WH 711 41.3 85 162
HD 2329 39.4 76 173
PBW 343 38.9 98 132
HD 2733 39.4 98 134
DBW 17 40.6 86 157
KRL 19 35.8 98 122
UP 262 38.9 98 132
K9107
K307
HUW 234

12. The Directorate
of Wheat
Research (Karnal)

13. Talk from the DWR project director
• 80% Punjab’s agriculture is
irrigated
• Main abiotic traits for
breeding are
– Heat, drought &
waterlogging tolerance
– Soil salinity, alkalinity
• Main biotic traits for
breeding are
– Rust race evolution, new or
expanding diseases, insect
pest prevalence changes

14. The science within the DWR
• Yield gap & yield barriers breaking
• Crop protection: rusts & other diseases
• Quality improvement
–Chapatti, bread, biscuit, pasta
• Resource conservation technologies
• Extension and communication
mechanisms

15. The science in the DWR
• The latest varietal release is bred for all traits
at once (by teams)
• ~10,000 crosses/year are carried out
• ~600 multi-location trials/year are carried out
• Minimum requirement for a variety is:
– High and stable yield
– Resistant to at least 2 out of the 3 rusts
• Attempt to turn wheat into a C4 plant

16. Preliminary visits
to farmers

17. Farming systems characteristics
(see video)
• Rice in the Rabi (spring) and wheat
in the Kharif (autumn) season
• Basmati rice quality is special in
Punjab (unique aroma)
• Punjab produces 60-70% of India’s
wheat and rice

18. Integrated farming systems
• Grain drying and storage
• Manure drying, packing and
storage
• Cattle maintenance facilities
• Cropping plots

19. Communication
• All farmers have
mobiles
• But don’t
speak/read/write
English

20. Small and large-scale farmer
similarities
• Sensitive to crop needs (irrigation to cool
down soil or leaves)
• Open to collaboration with scientists
• Understand limitations and potential of
science to maintain and enhance production
• Know about climate change
• Do not fear climate change, they trust
research institutions

21. Research in the region
• Carried out by PAU and DWR
• Deploying, screening, testing, releasing,
distributing new varieties
• Marketing seeds
• Farmers (part. Large-scale) are conducting
some experiments by themselves
• Farmer engagement in research

22. Problems related to
weather/climate
• Summer temperatures
40-44C, +2C what does
this mean for
wheat/rice?
• Rainfall seasonality
• Losses have been
experienced before
• Farmers want to do
other activities as well
(more profit)
• Farmers are hungry of
weather forecasts to
plan their cropping
seasons and select
varieties

23. Adaptation-mitigation trade-offs

24. Lose-lose
Win-win

25. Knowledge gaps
• Geographic data analysis and multi-site trial
historical data analysis (GxE, P/DxE, GxExP/D).
• Climate change science and data only barely (if)
explored
• Crop modelling not explored
• Great opportunity for capacity building