Farmers should adopt alternative and resilient farming techniques to mitigate the effects of changing climate and weather phenomena like El Niño; this is the need of the hour, noted T Chandrika Krishnan, President of Wayanad district panchayat, underlining the need to adopt more sustainable farming practices in the context of climate change.

Krishnan made the comment at a training programme organised by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Kozhikode for tribal farmers on the production and processing of tuber crops. It was organized by ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI) and MSSRF under the Tribal Sub Plan Scheme to enhance the agricultural capacity of tribal communities by imparting skills and providing research support.

Emphasising the increasing importance of growing tubers in the face of increasing climate uncertainties, Krishnan appealed to the farming community to utilise agricultural research and innovation effectively for survival and sustainability. Though important, traditional farming techniques should be coupled with scientific techniques, which can help farmers cope with the effects of very irregular monsoons and prolonged dry spells that are a growing challenge to agricultural production in the region.

The adaptability of tuber crops to various soil and climatic conditions is becoming increasingly recognised and is increasingly seen as a viable alternative for farmers who are dealing with erratic weather patterns. They have a lower water demand and are more resilient to stressors than other crops, making them a viable option for communities facing the challenges of modern agriculture.

The training is part of a larger initiative to empower vulnerable farming communities directly affected by the impacts of climate change by bringing scientific tools and agricultural innovations to them, with ICAR-CTCRI and MSSRF playing key roles in the initiative.