Terrascope Field Experience Sirsi, India

As the Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen has observed that "there is no such thing as an apolitical food problem."

One of the greatest achievements of India has been to provide food security for its people. As recently as 1943, the Bengal famine claimed more than two million lives.

The means by which India provides food security has recently come under review.The lessons of the debate are crucial both for India and for other countries striving to meet the nutritional needs of their people.

The Location of IRCC

Agriculture in Karnataka• Karnataka is an agrarian state known worldwide for its

production of coffee, raw silk and sandalwood. • Agriculture makes up 64.6 percent of the total area.• About 70% of the people of the state live in villages and 71%

of the total population is agriculture dependent.

• Agriculture in Karnataka is mainly done over 3 seasons: – Kharif (April to September) – Rabi (October to December) – Summer (January to March)

• Karnataka is a major producer of rice in India, with Rice primary food crop and sugarcane is the cash crop.

• Other cash crops sown in Karnataka agriculture apart from sugarcane are cashews, cardamom, betel (areca) nut, and grapes.

• The cool slopes of western Ghats are well-known for coffee and tea plantations

• Eastern regions are widely known for producing sugarcane, rubber plants, and fruits such as oranges and bananas.

• The state has a 75% share of the total floriculture industry of the country.• Horticulture generates 40 percent of the total income of the state. • Sandalwood comes from forests• Silk is very important

• The Kharif crops in Karnataka comprise millets, paddy (rice), maize, moong (pulses), groundnut, red chillies, cotton, soyabean, sugarcane, rice, and turmeric

• The major Rabi crops of Karnataka are wheat, barley, mustard, sesame, and peas.

Food Insecurity High In Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh And Karnataka: Study

Food insecurity worsened in the most urbanised states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka …., said a study released by Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy.

Interestingly, the food insecurity in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka equally worsened in rural areas in the review period, it said.

The report raised concerns about the model of urban growth that has been adopted in the three states, which are considered exemplars for achieving high growth in the country.

At all India level, the report found, “the period of economic reforms and high growth has not seen a clear improvement in urban food security across all the states.”

Besides food insecurity, the report also highlighted chronic under-nutrition among women and children, besides, unemployment, water and sanitation in urban areas.

http://indiacurrentaffairs.org/food-insecurity-high-in-maharashtra-andhra-pradesh-and-karnataka-study/

Sirsi Terrascope Field ProgramPurpose: An intensive field experience to ground truth the social, economic,

environmental and political realities of the complex food security issues set in the context of India

Objectives

The Terrascope Field Experience takes participants on a learning journey that:

1.Offers ‘hands-on’ learning through immersion in and interaction with some of the complexities and human elements of food security in India

2.Opens new perspectives on the environmental, social, economic and political realities of food security in India

3.Provides opportunities for interaction with local communities, politicians, scientists, food security experts and relevant institutions

4.Provides an opportunity for creating new relationships and team building with their peers

Key elements of visit:

• Field visits to different agricultural production landscapes and meet farmers

• Hands on field research in active agro-forestry lands

• Dialogue with a farmers cooperative • Visit an intensive technology driven agricultural

production system• Meet and dialogue with local agricultural college

Visit to Agro-forestry

Spice/dry fruit/Areca land-Sirsi

Pepper

Vanilla

Cashew

Areca Nut

Visit to Local Cooperative Society

Learning and action planning

Earthwatch India Regional Climate Centre

Located in Western Ghats of India, a mountain range stretching 1600 km down the western side of India.

• Globally recognised biodiversity hotspot, with nearly 5,000 species of flowering plants and over 1000 species of vertebrates.

• Some of the forest is protected as Forest Department reserves, some is community forest land where local communities have full access to forest resources, and some areas are privately managed as plantations. The area is densely populated, with heavy reliance on forest products.

Earthwatch works with the Indian Institute of Science at this site, which has been conducting research ecological and socio-economic at the reserve for 25 years.

Volunteers from HSBC, termed 'Climate Champions', assist with data collection in the field and data entry, overseen by scientists from the Indian Institute of Science.

Earthwatch Team/Research PartnersEarthwatch Team

Research partners-IISc

Dr. Monowar Alam KhalidIndia Field Director

Mr. Prashant MahajanLearning and Comms ManagerEarthwatch Institute

Prof. N.R. Ravindranath Lead ScientistCentre for Sustainable TechnologiesIndian Institute of Science

Our Climate ChampionsTeam 1 Team 2

Team 3Team 4

Team 5

Champions in Action........

It’s break for Breakfast

Sirsi Base Camp –Hotel Panchavati

Facilities: Room/Pantry

Restaurant

Lecture Hall and prayer/tv room

Earthwatch Sirsi Offices and computer rooms

Field vehicles

Time to enjoy and relax.....

Shopping

Local attractions