Futures Research Publications

Climate resilient development pathways for farmer producer organizations in semi-arid India

Farmer producer organisations (FPOs) can develop targeted climate resilience–building measures if confronted with data on specific climate risks.

by

Feb 19, 2025

The Central Processing Unit and Campus of Sahyadri Farms, an FPO, at Mohadi, Nashik, Maharashtra. Credit: sahyadrifarms.in

Arjuna Srinidhi et al. explore strategies for enhancing the resilience of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) to climate change in semi-arid regions of India. They identify pathways that simultaneously address development and climate challenges, focusing on critical climate-stress moments. 

Published in Climate and Development, 1-16, February 19, 2025. 

This study is based on Arjuna Srinidhi’s research at WOTR and Wageningen University & Research, prior to his joining WELL Labs. 

Small and marginal farmers in semi-arid India face vulnerabilities stemming from low agricultural productivity, degraded ecosystems, and market and climate uncertainties.

Farmer producer organizations (FPOs) have emerged as collectives to address these challenges and enhance climate resilience. Despite their potential in promoting empowerment and inclusive decision-making, FPOs in India struggle to develop successful business plans and cope with extreme weather events.

This study aimed to identify climate resilient development pathways (CRDPs) for FPOs in semi-arid India that can simultaneously address development and climate change concerns. We collaborated with four FPOs in Maharashtra and eight experts to co-create CRDPs for these FPOs. The CRDPs challenged existing visions; when confronted with data on increasing climate risks based on critical climate-stress moments, the FPOs included targeted climate resilience–building measures.

The application of critical climate-stress moments for CRDP development is a methodological advancement, particularly in cases of contested goals, ambiguous vision, and multi-stakeholder involvement. Further, depending on their agricultural products and stage of development of climate resilience, FPOs initially prefer incremental adaptation measures over larger transformative changes. We recommend that current policies for promoting FPOs in India carefully consider the differences in types of FPOs and stage of development in climate resilience.

 

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Acknowledgements

Authored by Arjuna Srinidhi, Miranda P. M. Meuwissen, Sandeep Jadhav, Fulco Ludwig, Dada Dadas, Nikhil Nikam and Saskia E. Werners

The journal article can be cited as: Srinidhi, Arjuna, Miranda PM Meuwissen, Sandeep Jadhav, Fulco Ludwig, Dada Dadas, Nikhil Nikam, and Saskia E. Werners. “Climate resilient development pathways for farmer producer organizations in semi-arid India.” Climate and Development (2025): 1-16.

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