Tamil Nadu Govt Partners with UNWFP for Climate Resilience in Ramanathapuram
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Synopsis
On April 9, the Tamil Nadu government signed a Letter of Understanding with the UNWFP India to implement the 'Adaptation for Resilience' (ADAPT4R) climate resilience initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable agricultural communities.
Key Takeaways
- Collaboration between Tamil Nadu and UNWFP for climate action.
- ADAPT4R focuses on food security and adaptation strategies.
- Implementation in Ramanathapuram over five years.
- Budget allocation of USD 14 million.
- Special emphasis on empowering women farmers.
Chennai, April 9 (NationPress) The government of Tamil Nadu has entered into a Letter of Understanding (LoU) with the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP) India to launch a climate resilience project named ‘Adaptation for Resilience’ (ADAPT4R).
The official exchange of the LoU took place between Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests, Government of Tamil Nadu, and Nozomi Hashimoto, Deputy Country Director of WFP India.
The ADAPT4R initiative, supported by the Adaptation Fund, aims to enhance the adaptive capacity and food security of vulnerable farming communities across Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
In Tamil Nadu, the project will roll out over a five-year timeframe in Ramanathapuram district.
Directed by the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests in partnership with WFP, the project will prioritize building climate resilience among smallholder farmers, with a special focus on women.
The initiative will advocate for climate-resilient agricultural methods, improve access to vital information and resources, reinforce local community institutions, and incorporate early warning systems to minimize climate-related risks.
With a budget totaling USD 14 million, the project aspires to lessen the negative impact of extreme weather events and changing climate patterns on agriculture, while safeguarding food security and rural livelihoods.
This LoU follows a previous agreement signed in August 2024 between the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and WFP, representing a significant move in transforming national climate commitments into practical strategies at the state level.
The signing ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials from the Tamil Nadu government, including A. R. Rahul Nadh, IAS, Director of the Department of Environment and Climate Change; Anurag Mishra, IFS, Special Secretary of the Department of Environment and Climate Change; and Ritto Cyriac, IFS, Special Secretary of the Department of Forests.
Also present were senior representatives from WFP and MoEFCC, including Pradnya Paithankar, Head of Climate Change and Resilient Food Systems at WFP, and Dr. Suthanuka Sarkar, Deputy Director of MoEFCC.
