From climate change to changes in agriculture, land and water at village level: a foresight approach in India

Overview & Synopsis

Agriculture in India is greatly concerned by adaptation issues as climate change is predicted to havea significant impact on cultural conditions and consequently on food safety. There has been a callfor local measures to adapt to climate change and for the participation of local actors. In this context,we used a foresight study framework to discuss changes in agriculture, land and water with farmersin Sorapet (South India). This article presents: the method applied; the changesin this village within the past 10 years; and the three contradictory scenarios for 2040 as discussedwith stakeholders. The foresight exercise produced an interesting setting for the dialogue betweenfarmers and researchers which resulted in focusing on issues such as the attachment to agriculture.Participative foresight alongside local stakeholders, as in this study, is new in India.This experience confirms the usefulness of the foresight approach in promoting alternatives.However, it has to be developed while further questioning its departure from local practices.