An evaluation study on sustainability of TN - IAMWARM project climate smart agricultural interventions in Tamil Nadu

An evaluation has been conceptualized to study the present status and sustainability of climate smart agricultural interventions adopted in the different sub basins and the respective tanks falling in Tamil Nadu State pertaining to the TN -IAMWARM project period. In order to objectively assess the status and sustainability, along with the 125 tanks from 41 sub basins which were served under IAMWARM-I, 36 tanks from 28 sub basins were selected as ‘control’ which were not served by the project. The present paper proposed an approach to the evaluation of farm sustainability. The issue of the diversification and completely linked with it, the issue of gap area coverage in the Ayacut area also to be discussed. The extent of increase in the horticulture crops found in the project area. The area shifted and sustained to diversified crop. The extent of adoption of INM and IPM practices. 10 to 20 percent shift from paddy to other commercial crops, 30 to 40 percent adopted of INM and IPM practices. 10 to 20 per cent increase in productivity. 10 to 20 per cent increase in farm income.

In a predominantly Agricultural State like Tamil Nadu, there is need for intensifying efforts to improve productivity, and sustainable farm income. Long-term growth in agriculture depends in large part on increasing the efficiency and productivity of use of water. A concomitant need in this area is the strengthening and integrating of institutional structures which can help small and marginal farmers’ access responsive irrigation management and improved agriculture practices. Faster growth in agriculture is central to sustainable development and poverty reduction in Tamil Nadu. Although agriculture accounts for only 15.7 percent of total GSDP, farm income accounts for about half of household income for 35 million people (56 percent of the state’s population) who live in rural areas. Much of this rural population is poor, with estimates ranging from 20.6% to 31% of rural population. For the poorest rural quintile (approximately 1.5 million households or 7.5 million people) more than three quarters of income is derived from agriculture, with agricultural wage labour alone accounting for half of household income. Given the importance of agriculture in the incomes of the poor in Tamil Nadu, growth in agriculture could further reduce rural poverty through higher yields to agricultural producers, higher real wages to agricultural labourers and increased income and employment opportunities with forward and backward links to the rural non-farm sector.

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