Dehradun rolls out Climate-Smart Agriculture training; empowers 200 farmers under IFAD-supported Gramotthan project

DEHRADUN: The IFAD-funded Gramotthan Project (REAP) has rolled out Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) training programmes across Dehradun district to help farmers tackle the growing challenges of climate change.

Training sessions were conducted in Dudhli and Jamunwala villages under the Safalta Cluster Level Federation (Doiwala block) and Udaan Cluster Level Federation (Sahaspur block). Self-Help Group (SHG) members and progressive farmers actively participated.

The programme was held under the guidance of Abhinav Shah, Chief Development Officer, Dehradun, and delivered by trainers from GBPUA&T University, Pantnagar. It focused on equipping farmers with tools to adapt agricultural practices to climate shifts, boost yields, mitigate risks, and promote sustainability.

“Given the challenges posed by climate change, it is essential to adopt scientific and innovation-driven agricultural practices. Through the IFAD-supported Gramotthan Project, farmers are not only receiving technical knowledge to enhance productivity and income, but also being trained to build climate resilience at the local level. These training programs are a vital step toward empowering rural communities and improving livelihoods,” Mr Shah said.

The objectives of the CSA training include enhancing sustainable yields and income, building climate resilience, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

So far, more than 200 farmers and SHG members have been trained under the initiative, with plans to reach over 700 more in the coming months. Last year, 400 individuals were trained under the same programme.