From Policy to Fields: How NICRA is Transforming Climate-resilient Agriculture in Darrang, Assam, India

Abstract

The increasing frequency of climate-induced hydro-meteorological extremes poses a significant threat to agrarian sustainability in Eastern Himalayan floodplain ecosystems. This study examines the transformative impact of the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) in Kamarpara village, Darrang district, Assam—an agroecologically vulnerable site recurrently affected by floods, erratic rainfall, and seasonal droughts. Through a suite of integrated interventions encompassing climate-resilient crop varieties (e.g., Ranjit Sub-1, millets, Boro rice), natural resource management (e.g., raised beds, rainwater harvesting, planted dykes), livestock and poultry innovations (e.g., dual-purpose poultry, Beetal crossbreeding, elevated shelters), and capacity-building measures, the program demonstrated measurable improvements in productivity, income diversification, and ecological stability. Empirical outcomes included up to 25% yield enhancement in stress-tolerant rice, improved fodder availability through perennial grasses, reduced livestock mortality, and increased resilience of smallholders to climatic aberrations. Participatory technology dissemination, experiential learning, and adaptive behavioral shifts among farmers were key enablers of success. The convergence of low-cost, scalable technologies with localized governance mechanisms established Kamarpara as a replicable model of grassroots climate adaptation. The findings underscore the strategic importance of farmer-centric, ecosystem-specific interventions in operationalizing climate resilience, offering critical insights for policy replication across similar flood- and drought-prone regions.