Women at the center of climate friendly approaches to agriculture and water use - A report by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

• Empowerment of women as political actors in society and as co-decision makers at the household level
• Participation of women in democratic local governance structures
• Promotion of multifunctional agriculture.

Two sets of policy level interventions emerge from the interventions from the case study:

• Strengthening local food systems
• Rebuilding the natural resource base.

In developing this, the women have trusted their traditional knowledge, but have also built on it to enhance productivity and sustainability by selectively and carefully reintroducing both traditional and modern practices. From the perspective of climate change policy, their interventions are synergistic, bringing together an “adaptation strategy” and a “mitigation strategy,” even as they try to ensure food security at individual and household levels.

This case study shows that by selectively and carefully building on firm foundations of their traditional knowledge, and yet seeking ways to enhance ecological integrity while attempting to meet their food and water security needs, it is possible to develop effective, just and people-centered solutions to the food and water crises, without resorting to unproven technologies.

The report ends by arguing that more space should be created for development of national policies that pay attention to synergetic efforts such as those promoted by Tamil Nadu Women's Collective.