The coastal agricultural landscapes of South Asia face unprecedented challenges from climate change, threatening food security and livelihoods across the region. The ESPAR project addressed this critical issue by examining the prevailing disconnect between agricultural policies and their practical implementation in vulnerable coastal communities.
Climate events like El Nino and extreme weather phenomena cause significant agricultural yield variability in South Asia, with recent studies showing crop yield variability ranging from 12% to 22% across different regions, directly impacting millions of marginal farmers. Without proper adaptation measures, the region could experience economic losses equivalent to 1.8% of GDP by 2050, escalating to 8.8% by 2100, with some recent projections suggesting potential losses exceeding 24% by the end of the century for parts of South Asia. The project recognized that while governments have developed various climate-resilient agricultural policies, significant gaps exist between policy intentions and ground-level implementation.
Through comprehensive field research across selected coastal landscapes in South Asia, the ESPAR project team systematically mapped these policy-practice disconnects. The initiative employed community-centred approaches, conducting extensive consultations with farmers, local leaders, and policymakers to understand real-world challenges. Special attention was given to the opinion of women farmers, who increasingly shouldered agricultural responsibilities as climate pressures forced male labourers to migrate to cities. The findings were synthesized into practical, evidence-based policy recommendations through country-specific white papers that could bridge the gap between government intentions and farmer needs. Other key outcomes included mapping of climate-vulnerable agricultural areas and comprehensive frameworks for integrating nature-based solutions into farming practices. The project emphasized sustainable approaches that work within existing socio-economic structures while building resilience against climate extremes.
ESPAR’s collaborative approach involved researchers, government officials, and farming communities working together to co-create solutions. This participatory methodology ensured that policy recommendations were scientifically sound and practically implementable, ultimately contributing to enhanced food security and climate preparedness across the vulnerable coastal regions of South Asia.
