The five-year (2014-2018) Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR) project uses insights from multi-scale, interdisciplinary work to inform and transform climate adaptation policy and practice in ways that promote the long-term wellbeing of the most vulnerable and those with the least agency. This brief identifies and characterises the key vulnerabilities in Sangamner.
Key insights:
- groundwater is the primary source of water for both the agricultural and drinking needs of the area. However, the widespread, regional overexploitation of groundwater, compromises its access and availability, and makes its management and governance crucial
- there has been a regional shift in cropping patterns from food crops to cash crops. There has also been an increase in crossbred milch cattle and buffalos, and a decline in indigenous breeds. These shifts are high-profit, high-risk strategies and could increase vulnerabilities, particularly in the case of poor and marginal farmers
- in Maharashtra, government, private and civil society actors have been taking steps to use information technology to provide weather, crop and market-related services to farmers. By providing farmers with timely, reliable, and useful information, these services have the potential to reduce farmer vulnerability to both climatic and non-climatic risks