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2018 | Book

Resilient Asia

Fusion of Traditional and Modern Systems for a Sustainable Future

Editors: Prof. Dr. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, Dr. Osamu Saito, Dr. Hirotaka Matsuda, Dr. Geetha Mohan

Publisher: Springer Japan

Book Series : Science for Sustainable Societies

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About this book

This book summarizes three years of extensive research conducted in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Vietnam as part of the CECAR – Asia project, which was intended to enhance resilience to climate and ecosystem changes by developing mosaic systems to strengthen resilience of bio-production systems through the integration of large-scale modern agriculture systems with traditional, decentralized small-scale systems.

The book starts with climate downscaling and impact assessment in rural Asia, and then explores various adaptation options and measures by utilizing modern science and traditional knowledge including home garden systems and ancient irrigation systems. The book subsequently examines the influence of climatic and ecological changes and the vulnerability of social economies from quantitative and qualitative standpoints, applying econometric and statistical models in agriculture communities of Asia to do so. The main goal of all chapters and case studies presented here is to identify the merits of applying organic methods to both commercial large-scale production and traditional production to strengthen social resilience and promote sustainable development. Especially at a time when modern agriculture systems are highly optimized but run the risk of failure due to changes in the climate and ecosystem, this book offers viable approaches to developing an integrated framework of modern and traditional systems to enhance productivity and total system resilience, as illustrated in various case studies.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Introduction: Enhancing Resilience Against Climate and Ecosystem Changes in Rural Asia
Abstract
This chapter introduces the influence of climatic and ecosystem changes in agricultural communities across rural Asia including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Across various case studies in three major themes, this chapter outlines the structure and approach to lead the potential solutions to the problems that arise in the development of adaptation of bioproduction systems to climatic, social, and ecological changes. The solutions include methods to improve potential adaptive capacity and agroforestry systems, and an integrated irrigation water management to increase natural and livelihood resources. Following chapters represent a synthesis of sustainable traditional and modern systems and the methods operative in rural Asia, which identifies the advantages of mosaic systems to enhance resilience and promote sustainable development.
Kazuhiko Takeuchi, Osamu Saito, Hirotaka Matsuda, Geetha Mohan
Chapter 2. Preliminary Assessment of Rice Production in Coastal Part of Red River Delta Surrounding Xuan Thuy National Park, Vietnam, for Improving Resilience
Abstract
Rice production in Giao Thuy district surrounding Xuan Thuy National Park at the estuary of Red River, Vietnam, was assessed by local rice statistics (1990–2012), historical climate (1961–2010) and salinity (2003–2012) recordings, farmer interviews, and on-farm yield and salinity trials, in order to clarify (1) vulnerability and resilience to climate hazards and seawater intrusion and (2) differences in rice production in buffer zone of Xuan Thuy National Park as compared with the outer zone. Intensive double rice cropping with small land size characterized the target site. Historical yield rapidly increased from the 1990s particularly for spring rice. Incidences of flood and pest seriously reduced yield of summer rice in some years (i.e., 2005, 2009), together with numerous various climatic damages perceived by farmers. Mean maximum air temperature has increased by 0.3 °C per decade, while its direct effects on rice yield were not conspicuous. Seawater intruded to longer distance toward upstream from the estuary: salinity became high at the intake gates nearby sea (i.e., 2.1% at Con Nhat) which have been replaced with the new upstream intake gate. The salt concentration of standing water in the 28 selected paddy fields was generally maintained lower. Rice yield in the fields nearby the river/coast dyke was lower than those far from the dyke. Inputs of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides were equally high in buffer zone of Xuan Thuy National Park as in the outer zone. Possible strategies to improve resilience of rice production in Giao Thuy were discussed.
Akihiko Kamoshita, Yen Thi Bich Nguyen, Van Thi Hai Dinh
Chapter 3. Farmers’ Behavior for Introducing Livestock to Respond to External Shocks
Abstract
The purpose of this chapter is to reveal factors to introduce or raise livestock by farmers to respond to external shocks such as rapid economic growth with globalization and extreme weather events. Risk behaviors of farmers, social networks, and credit constraints are considered the main factors in this chapter. The target research area is the northern part of Vietnam around the Red River Delta. The villagers have a traditional home garden system, the so-called VAC, comprising trees for fruit, ponds for aquaculture, and livestock with high resilience. Because of the intrusion of the market economy, the traditional system is collapsing, although livestock can be considered a method to make smooth consumption in response to shocks. This chapter indicates that farmers in the targeted communities are coping with the intrusion of the market economy as an external shock. Raising livestock to generate a profit in the market has gained greater focus. Larger inputs for livestock may have caused environmental degradation and must be examined. Raising livestock is one of the major methods to enhance the resilience of households through smoothing consumption. However, it is probably causing other unexpected problems in the area because of the loss of the stability of the traditional VAC system.
Hirotaka Matsuda, Yuka Ogata, Akira Takagi, Hisashi Kurokura
Chapter 4. Enhancing Resilience to Climate Change and Disasters for Sustainable Development: Case Study of Vietnam Coastal Urban Areas
Abstract
Climate change is likely to intensify severe impacts of disasters and extreme weather events on resilience and sustainability of coastal urban areas. The solutions for enhancing sustainability and climate resilience of the coastal urban areas depend on multivariables and dimensions such as social, human, institutional, economic, and natural conditions and resources. It is therefore needed to develop a set of indicators for evaluating the adaptive capacity of urban systems and communities to climate change. In this chapter, we analyzed the status quo of climate variability, climate-related disasters, vulnerability, and adaptive capacity to climate change of Da Nang city, Vietnam, for developing a proposal of response measures to climate change. Results showed that Da Nang city has been impacted by several disasters, consisting of typhoons, floods, sea level rise, drought, saline intrusion, landslides, erosions, and forest fires. The vulnerability to climate change and disasters of Da Nang city is classified into low, average, high, and very high levels. The measures for reducing vulnerability and enhancing resilience to climate change and sustainability include increasing the resilience of natural environments and ecosystems and social systems, enhancing the urban governance for climate change adaptation, and promoting the transformative capacity from climate change to sustainable development opportunities.
Mai Trong Nhuan, Nguyen Tai Tue, Tran Dang Quy
Chapter 5. Traditional Farmers’ Adaptation Strategies on Climate Change of Different Environmental Conditions in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia
Abstract
Adaptive capacity has become one of the important issues in explaining societal aspects of climate change (Hinkel 2011). Therefore, understanding farmers’ adaptation strategy on climate change is seen as key to address agri-environmental challenges. The objectives of the study are (1) to understand the farmers’ perception on climate change, (2) to identify various adaptation strategies of the farmers in coping with climate change, (3) to find the most suitable adaptation strategy for farmers, and (4) to analyze the socioeconomic factors affecting the farmers’ decision in using the adaptation strategy. The results of the study show that very few farmers know about global warming and climate change, especially in unfavorable upland area. But the farmers understand some indications of the existence of climate change, such as increase of temperature, unstable rainfalls, and unpredictable rainy and dry seasons during the last 20 years. Most of the farmers agreed that the climate change has caused farm production decrease and sometimes crop failure. Water shortage and pest outbreaks are among consequences of the climate change experienced by the farmers. The study also shows that applying terracing system, cultivating land by contour lines, utilizing organic materials, applying multi-cropping pattern, crop rotation, and food storage are strategies mostly adopted by the farmers in order to cope with climate change. The result of analysis also shows that livestock ownership, drought experience, and water shortage are among factors that influence significantly their adaptation strategy decision. The study suggests the need to improve the knowledge of the farmers with respect to climate change and its impacts through extension services. It is recommended for the local government to increase the farmer’s ownership of livestock in coping with the climate change by introducing revolving fund scheme. The study also suggests to develop more weirs particularly in the upland area to solve the problem of drought and water shortage.
Irham, Osamu Saito, Hideyuki Mohri, Gilang Wirakusuma, Fatkhiyah Rohmah, Hani Perwitasari
Chapter 6. Ecosystem Services of Traditional Homegardens in South and Southeast Asia
Abstract
Among homegarden research, few studies assess and compare ecosystem services provided by different systems. This chapter discusses the similarity and differences in structural characteristics, functions, ecosystem services, and biodiversity of different homegarden systems across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. A case study on Sri Lanka highlights how we can apply ecosystem service assessments to better understand drivers of changes for these homegarden systems and adapt them to economic, social, and environmental changes to continue to enhance rural livelihoods.
Hideyuki Mohri, Nicholas Landreth, Shruti Lahoti, Osamu Saito, Gamini Hitinayake, Nimal Gunatilleke, Irham, Hoang Van Thang, Kazuhiko Takeuchi
Chapter 7. Integrated Water Resource Analysis of the Deduru Oya Left Bank Considering Traditional and Modern Systems
Abstract
The Deduru Oya reservoir which was commissioned in 2014 is primarily planned to improve the livelihood of farmers in parts of the North Western Province of Sri Lanka by increasing the productivity of its land and water resources by regulating and diverting water to irrigation systems through two main canals in both riverbanks. This irrigation project is an example of integration of modern irrigation systems and traditional irrigation systems to improve cropping intensity and resilience. In this study, a model for water management in the left bank (LB) canal development area of the Deduru Oya irrigation project is developed. Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) of Hydrological Engineering Center, US Army Corps Engineers is used for runoff estimation, and CROPWAT model of FAO is used for the estimation of crop water requirements. Water available for paddy cultivation in the area from each of the traditional irrigation systems is estimated, and the additional requirement of water from the Deduru Oya reservoir through the LB canal to satisfy the irrigation demand in the area is estimated.
Simulation carried out for the past 10 years reveals that the Deduru Oya reservoir project which functions incorporating the existing traditional irrigation systems would supply the irrigation water requirement for paddy cultivation in the LB canal irrigation area without failure.
S. B. Weerakoon, Saliya Sampath, Srikantha Herath
Chapter 8. Mosaic of Traditional and Modern Agriculture Systems for Enhancing Resilience
Abstract
There are many traditional agricultural production systems in Asia that have resulted not only in outstanding landscapes, maintenance of agricultural biodiversity, indigenous knowledge, and resilient ecosystems development but also provided economic, environmental, and social goods and services over thousands of years. With growing population and economic aspirations, many of these systems are being replaced by modern agriculture systems that are designed for efficiency and large-scale development. However, there is also a growing realization that we should in some form preserve these valuable repositories of indigenous knowledge for climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation and land management, and the rich culture they spawned. Different approaches such as World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites, in particular World Cultural Heritage Landscapes of UNESCO, or the Globally Important Agriculture Heritage Systems of FAO attempt to preserve and showcase representative production sites from these systems. However, they cannot be upscaled to cover the vast populations still engaged in them. In this paper, we investigate the feasibility of fusing the traditional and the modern systems through building mosaics of traditional and new systems.
In this article, we have studied the Deduru Oya irrigation project which provides an ideal ground for research and experimentation of integrating modern irrigation and ancient irrigation systems to improve cropping intensity and resilience. The simulation carried out for past 10 years reveal that this project planned to operate LB canal irrigation management incorporating the existing small irrigation tanks will be able to supply the water demand for LB development area for paddy cultivation without failure. While the modern system can adequately meet the irrigation demand, the integration of existing distributed small tanks provides resilience for extreme drought conditions and the much-needed macro-microscale integration with autonomy at microscale.
Srikantha Herath, Binaya Mishra, Pearly Wong, S. B. Weerakoon
Chapter 9. Conclusion: Synthesis, Recommendations, and Future Directions
Abstract
This chapter summarizes 3 years of widespread research conducted under Climate and Ecosystems Change Adaptation Research in Asia (CECAR-Asia). The main aim of this study was to build agroecological bioproduction systems that adapt to climate change and to propose measures to enhance the resilience of rural production systems in three countries in rural Asia. A mosaic system was proposed to sustain these systems such that a fusion of traditional and modern systems results in a more resilient Asia now and into the future. Some of the key findings suggest that an integration of efficient large-scale modern systems with resilient localized ancient systems is a key intervention and a unique opportunity to promote a harmonious relationship with nature, whereas, extension services, timely information, and knowledge sharing are highly relevant for communities, especially those in rural areas.
Kazuhiko Takeuchi, Osamu Saito, Hirotaka Matsuda, Geetha Mohan
Metadata
Title
Resilient Asia
Editors
Prof. Dr. Kazuhiko Takeuchi
Dr. Osamu Saito
Dr. Hirotaka Matsuda
Dr. Geetha Mohan
Copyright Year
2018
Publisher
Springer Japan
Electronic ISBN
978-4-431-56597-0
Print ISBN
978-4-431-56595-6
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-56597-0