Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India

PROJECT NAME/TITLE: ESTABLISHING CLIMATE CHANGE KNOWLEDGE NETWORK IN INDIAN

AGRICULTURE (CCKN-IA)
Situation (200 words)
Climate change presents India with major challenges. In the course of the 20th century, the average
temperature in the country increased by 0.6C, and the trend continues upward. Rainfall is becoming
scarce but intense, increasingly affecting the use of natural resources and agricultural production.
Almost 60% of agriculture in India is rain-fed and nearly 90 million farmers are small and marginal,
especially vulnerable to climate changes. Farmers are in need of timely, authentic and localised
knowledge in order to cope better and adapt to the effects of climate change (both over a short
term and a long-term period). While there are existing organisations, experts and institutions
regularly updating knowledge and expertise on climate change adaptation, better integration,
exchange and localisation of such knowledge is important. Thus, revamping the existing Agricultural
Knowledge and Information Networks and Systems (AKINS) and making it more dynamic, responsive
and relevant to all stakeholders (policy makers, extension agents, intermediaries), especially Indian
farmers, is the core thrust area of this project.
Objective (100 words)
Stakeholders at national, state and district level use the newly-developed Climate Change
Knowledge Network in Indian Agriculture (CCKN-IA) to operationalise the National Mission on
Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) in selected districts of three Indian states: Maharashtra, Jharkhand
and Odisha.

Together with Ministry of Agriculture, CCKNIA is using an innovative ICT-based knowledge platform
to improve processing and sharing of knowledge around climate change adaptation in agriculture.
The project enhances the existing extension systems and local networks to provide locally-relevant
and timely information on climate change adaptation.

Approach (200 words)

The project is operational -- on a pilot basis-- in three select Indian states. It is guided and steered
through steering committees at three levels-- national, state and local. Technical support is provided
through state-level multi-actor advisory groups. The core strategies of the project are:
Developing and operationalising a layered ICT solution platform for efficient knowledge creation and
dissemination: CCKN-IA has developed an open source platform called Network for Information on
Climate (Ex) change (NICE). It allows for effective knowledge exchange among the stakeholders as
well as a two-way communication, on a real time basis, between farmers and knowledge providers.
Experts from Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)
and other institutions are trained and engaged in developing localised quality advisories on climate
change adaptation on the NICE platform. The project works with over 200 community-based
extension workers. Training is also provided to these extension workers so that they become
effective knowledge-providers for farmers. The project has also joined hands with the private sector,
namely the Reuters Market Light (RML), on iPPP model. This is toprovide localised market solutions
to the farmers.
Institutional mainstreaming: CCKN-IA works closely with institutions such as the State Agriculture
Management and Extension Training Institutes (SAMETIs), and KVKs. It builds their capacities as
knowledge-repositories/providers. SAMETIs are being supported to act as state level agency for
coordinating and managing the network of knowledge providers and validators. CCKN-IA also assists
National Institute of Agriculture Extension Management (MANAGE) to be the one-stop national
training providing institution on climate change adaptation. It also will assist MANAGE to replicate
ICT-enabled knowledge advisories in other parts of the country.
Leveraging existing resources: CCKN-IA facilitates convergence of various state-run agricultural
programmes and schemes in its project locations. This helps farmers receive support in applying and
using quality and timely advisories that is shared under the project.

Achievements/Expected Outcomes (250 words)

Achievements so far:

An open source, adaptive knowledge management platform is developed called Network for
Information on Climate (Ex) change or NICE with over 350 registered users
More than 22,000 farmers in 3 project states, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Odisha, are
linked to NICE and are receiving quality-advisories.
6 KVKs, State Agricultural Universities and IMD centres are providing highly-localised, and
vetted advisories on climate change adaptation
The advisories are developed in multiple formats and disseminated through various modes.
Adaptation advisories range from illustrative one- pagers, SMSs to audio-visuals. They are
disseminated on a weekly basis at the district and the block levels. Information is also
disseminated via personal tablets of the extension agents, through community group
discussions, as notifications on the mobile handsets of the farmers and in the form of display
material on the village notice boards.
The project ensures that the extension agents are adequately trained and have been
provided with tablet applications of NICE for continued and timely exchange of advisories
with the farmers. They have also been trained as local advisors on pest and disease
management.
Through use of ICT tools -- NICE, WhatsApp and telegram -- extension agents and experts
have a real time peer-learning platform for resolving their local issues
The project supports MANAGE to act as the National Consortium Facilitating Agency in
supporting and managing/ monitoring various networks of stakeholders at the national and
state level. State level SAMETIs manage and monitor consortium partners and project
interventions.

Expected results
-

Mainstreaming ICT-enabled knowledge networks -- under the National Mission for

Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Ministry of Agriculture -- so as to positively benefit the lives
of 240 million Indian farmers. This will be achieved by ensuring that they have access to
quality, timely and localised advisories on climate change adaptation.

Project Name
Commissioned by
Lead implementing agency
Lead executing agency
Duration
Budget
Webpage

ESTABLISHING CLIMATE CHANGE KNOWLEDGE NETWORK IN INDIAN

AGRICULTURE
BMZ
GIZ-India
Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India
4.000.000,00
www.cckn-ia.org