UN Solution Exchange: The query on ‘Flood resistant tree crops for ensuring food security’ was floated by UN Solution Exchange India to its members. The responses got are interesting one and could be replicated in the mountains as well. The UNSE members opined that though India has rich traditional knowledge and wisdom to mitigate disasters, with passage of time, these traditional practices have been destroyed and are disappearing speedily.  

To start with participants suggested a two-step process towards collecting and promoting flood resistant trees and crops:

1. Step 1- Collecting of Traditional Practices and mapping of flood resistant tress and crops – by involving elders of community, subject matter experts, colleges & institutes and sharing this knowledge with community.
2. Step 2- Experimenting and Disseminating of Successful Practices- Plant trees and crops of other flood regions in the experimental field and after studying their viability and productivity, the same can be promoted in Bihar.  

Members suggested varieties of ‘Flood Resistant Tree Crops’ that can be grown in flood prone locations in India. Some of them are:

1. Poplar- a promising species in flood prone areas and reported to sustain water logged conditions for 3-4 days at stretch. It is also fast growing and can be conveniently grown on the field boundaries without hampering growth of the crops in the plots.
2. Bhend (known in Konkan, scientific name is Thespecia populnea)- has been traditionally grown in coastal salinity affected flood prone belts for fuel, fodder and green manuring. The poles of the trees are also used for scaffoldings. Since its presence can also be seen in eastern foothills of Western Ghats (at around 600m where winter temperatures go as low as 4-5 degree celcius) it has a potential to be tried out in those areas as well.
3. Jal Lahari- Along with others, this paddy variety can withstand floods. This has been tested in areas of flood prone Bihar.
4. Babul (Acacia nilotica) – grown extensively in foreshore areas of tanks,  it can stand water logging for a week or more depending on its age. Its leaves and pods are used as fodder for cattle wood is good for ploughs and agricultural implements.
5. Noni (English-Indian mulberry; Bangla and Hindi-Acu; Tamil-Vennuna and Nuna-; Kannada-Haladipavete, Tagetemara)- is one of such trees proven as a coastal protector and seen in homesteads adjacent to coastal sea shore. During natural disasters like floods, droughts, earthquakes and hurricanes, tribal of Polynesian Islands depended on Noni fruits for food and nutrition.
6. Mandua- Finger Millets and Jhangora/Fox Millets and Barley- they help to control of top soil loss and soil erosion  and the crop waste is good for Fodder to the livestock. These are hardy species and tillage tolerant as well may be suitable to grow in flood prone area.
7. Nappier Grass- can be transplanted on the bun-dings of the fields it will reduce the breakage of the agricultural land as well as loss of top soil – this will helpful in reducing the effects of fast current of waves of flooded water due to its adventitious roots. Nappier is good fodder for the live stock and perennial grass.
8. Dendracalamus strictus, D. hamiltonii,Bambusa bamboos, Bambusa tulda, Oxitenenthera monostigma- these are varieties of Poor mans timber or Green Gold that can be transplanted along the river banks or on the riverside of the agricultural lands. This will provide low cost building material; few species of bamboo used for fodder, furniture and craft.Few varieities of Poppler and Delbargia Sisoo (Shesham) also will be helpful.

Apart from the above, members suggested plants and tress crops, likes Gular, Guava, Jamun, Syzygium Cumini Stul, Pidor, Terminelia, Arjuna, Eucalyptus, Jhervera, Babool, Bamboo, Baent, Bel, Bair, sugarcane etc . They also shared interesting practicing of Alternate Sources of Livelihood from Andhra Pradesh and mixed cropping from Uttar Pradesh. In Uttar Pradesh, farmers have divided whole crop-year into three stages according to flood shocks. These stages are pre-flood, during flood and post flood. In these stages, below mentioned diverse interventions are adopted by the farmers:

Finally members felt that helping people living in flood prone areas through supporting them in plantation of flood resistant crops is need of the hour. This effort of Help Age India, they mentioned will not only help in disaster management but also to ensure food security. They suggested that Agricultural Research and Disaster Management Institutes both can work together on such research and its implementation with the help of other societies and groups. 

Download the PDF version of this Consolidated Reply at
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Source: UN Solution Exchange India, Disaster Management Community www.solutionexchange-un.net.in