Promoting Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture through Participatory System Dynamics with Crop-Water-Income Dynamics

Abstract

The groundwater shortage for agriculture in upland villages in southern India has revealed the inter-relationship between the farmers' income, crop, and water with social, economic, and climatic variables. System Dynamics models such complex problems and leads to more effective solutions if done with stakeholder participation. In this work, participatory System Dynamics modeling of crop-water-income dynamics has been carried out in a village with the last five decades' data to develop an action plan for ecologically and economically sustainable agriculture. Causal loop diagrams and Stocks-and-flows diagrams were developed and validated through stakeholders' focused group discussions and individual meetings. Multiple 'what-if' scenarios suggested by stakeholders are simulated and analyzed. The benefits of less water-intensive, chemical-free, climate-resilient 'Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF)' are clear compared to other scenarios. A post-project survey indicated that 90% of stakeholders agreed that the framework is unbiased, encourages new ideas, and promotes a better understanding of the issues.