'Home Gardens' Can Tackle Poverty, Need Modernisation: Scientists

Roy and Sebak Jana, a researcher from Midnapore's Vidyasagar University, studied the vulnerability of HG systems to climate change and its impacts on food security in two villages (Ledagamar and Keshia) of the district, as part of an international project involving Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

During 2010 to 2012, as many as 368 HGs in five locations in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka were surveyed. The results shed light on how villagers perceive climate change and adapt to changes in terms of technology or traditional methods.

Adaptation becomes critical in the context of tackling climate change as all study sites in the three countries experienced "increased variability" of seasonal rains over the past five decades (1961-2010) and changes in onset of rains, said Roy.

Jana, associate professor of economics, department of economics with rural development, of the Vidyasagar University, said: "The meteorological data also coincided with the HG owners' perceptions about alterations. For example, they noted an increase in minimum and maximum temperatures which affected the productivity of the crops (annual and tree crops) and animal species."

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