Cultivating Resilience: A Policy Brief for Adapting Bihar’s Rice-Wheat Systems to Climate Uncertainty
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International Rice Research Institute
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Key Messages for Decision-Makers
• Climate change is a "threat multiplier" in Bihar. Erratic rainfall is not a standalone problem; it exacerbates deep-seated vulnerabilities in irrigation, finance, and market
access, pushing smallholder farmers into a cycle of risk and debt.
• A farmer's ability to adapt is determined by access to resources, not just knowledge. While farmers know the ideal time to plant, resource-poor and tenant farmers face delays of up to 50 days due to a lack of irrigation, directly impacting yields and income.
• Women are on the frontlines of both vulnerability and innovation. Bearing the double burden of farm work and climate stress, especially in migrant households, women farmers are also leading community-based adaptation through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
• Existing advisory systems are failing the most vulnerable. Information on weather
and farming practices is not timely, localized, or delivered in accessible formats, creating a critical information gap. Face-to-face meetings and SHG networks are the most trusted channels, not digital tools alone.
• Empowering Women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs) is the most strategic pathway to resilience. JEEVIKA SHGs have already proven to be effective hubs for finance, mechanization, and information dissemination, offering a ready-made, trusted platform for scaling up solutions.
Palabras clave
climate adaptation, resilience, rice, wheat, cropping systems, intercropping, women's participation, policies