This case study shares Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) regarding climate change from coastal fishing communities in and around Chennai, South India. From the Indian Journal of Fisheries.
“Climate Change and Grassroots Adaptation Process” describes case studies carried out in five distinct ecosystems in India. These studies sought to use communities’ knowledge and skills to identify alternative options for livelihood adaptation in the face of changing weather and socioeconomic conditions, therefore reducing vulnerability to longer-term climate change.
Nepali farmers find environmentally-friendly cultivation methods increase yields – and also help them adapt to rising temperatures and increasingly erratic rainfall. From Climate News Network.
Oamjie John describes the new green revolution in Kerala, with organic farming becoming a mass movement. Through a series of short descriptive case studies, Oamjie talks about the influences on these communities and individuals to take up organic farming.
Luois Figaredo has documented that the tribal people of Wayanad have honed practices to cope with extreme conditions imposed by climate change.
Imposing solutions from mainstream society to help the tribals cope with the unpredictable changes in climate would be ridiculous as they are already very attuned to the vagaries of the environment.
The concept of Swadeshi, as stated by Gandhi, is that self-sufficiency in food at the local and regional levels can ensure food sovereignty.
Siddhartha explains that the cultivation of millets, practicing mixed cropping and making use of the public distribution system’s warehouses can consolidate sustainability. Furthermore, trading of surpluses between villages and towns can enhance the economic viability of the rural community. Efforts to improve livelihoods by utilizing compost and traditional crops would also ensure stability.