March 2010: The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and WorldFish Center, both members of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), have released a report titled “Scoping Study on Natural Resources and Climate Change in Southeast Asia with a Focus on Agriculture,” with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
The report explores issues related to food security and the environment in the context of climate change in the Greater Mekong Subregion to inform agricultural adaptation. It highlights the change in agriculture from subsistence systems to commercial production, outlines these impacts on the environment and describes the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on agricultural production due to sea-level rise, temperature increases and shift in seasonal patterns. The report notes the challenges in implementing mechanisms for promoting sustainable land use. It recommends that SIDA develop targeted research programmes leading to pilot implementation of new production models, promote regional dialogue and analysis, and build national and regional capacity.
The report also provides examples of priority projects, such as: research/pilot programme on the provision of environmental services by agricultural systems, with an initial focus on mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions; research/pilot programme on redesigning rain-fed production systems; roundtable discussion and review of climate models and resulting projections of water availability for the region; and policy dialogue on the role of agricultural development in climate change adaptation. [The Report]