EconCSA – Assessing the Economic Efficiency of the Climate Smart Agriculture in South Asia
Coordinator: Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM)
Funding entity: European Commission through Horizon Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships
DESCRIPTION
The overall goal of EconCSA is to assess the economic efficiency of CSA practices through cost benefit analysis in the South Asian Countries particularly in Nepal, India and Sri Lanka (NIS). Furthermore, the research aims to identify the uncertainty related to the implemented CSA practices. Despite the several knowledge on the adoption of available CSA practices, there is a little knowledge of the impact of implementing specific CSA technologies on income, productivity and the trade-off associated with them. As well as comprehensive cost-effectiveness analysis of CSA adoption remains to be done. The research argues that these types of economic analyses are necessary to formulate evidence-based policy; to determine the feasible CSA investment options, to increase the likelihood of conducting targeted, context-relevant, and profitable interventions that achieve desired outcomes. This study endeavors to fill this critical knowledge gap by evaluating the cost-effectiveness of CSA practices as implemented by farmers cultivating rice, wheat, and maize, which are the cornerstone crops of South Asia.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The findings of this research are anticipated to yield several benefits. First and foremost, they will empower farmers by providing them with data-driven insights to make informed choices regarding the most suitable CSA technologies. Moreover, the results will inform decision-makers on the most effective CSA practices to advocate for, facilitating wider adoption among farmers. This, in turn, will contribute to the scalability of CSA techniques. Additionally, the study’s outcomes will be invaluable for policymakers and development practitioners, aiding them in crafting and fine-tuning agricultural policies and programs that are resilient in the face of climate change. Additionally, the outcomes of the research would support for the farmers to make decision on the most efficient option and for policymakers to formulate effective climate change and agricultural policies and programs in SA. Thus, EconCSA foster a link between science, practice and policy linkages for sustainable food security and small-scale farmers’ resilience to climate change.