Report
Improving Policy Coherence In Food, Land, And Water Systems To Advance Sustainable Development In India
A CASE STUDY OF ODISHA
Dr Suparana Katyaini, Kangkanika Neog, Tejaswi Joshi, Upasana Negi, Shashwat Shukla, Don Mani Paul, Nitin Bassi, Archisman Mitra, Garima Taneja, Suruchidipta Bhattacharjee, Alok Sikka, Juan Carlos Sanchez Ramirez and Alan Nicol
November 2024 | Sustainable Water
Suggested citation: Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW); International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 2024.Improving Policy Coherence in Food, Land, and Water Systems to Advance Sustainable Development in India A Case Study of Odisha. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies. 104p.
Overview
This report delves into the critical issue of policy coherence within the interconnected Food, Land, and Water (FLW) systems in Odisha. Guided by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha, the study outlines key practices and actionable recommendations for improving the effectiveness of FLW policies at state and national levels to enhance sustainability, water security, food security, and rural development and climate resilience.
The analysis covers nine significant national and state-specific policies that promote sustainable development in Odisha. By utilising an innovative multidimensional framework, the study offers strategic insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners.
Key Highlights:
- Comprehensive policy landscape mapping: The study identified 149 policies relevant to FLW systems across nine departments in Odisha, highlighting the state's commitment to evidence-based policy formulation.
- Coverage of multiple dimensions of policy coherence: A multidimensional framework was employed, focusing on vertical and horizontal institutional coordination, external consistencies, convergence opportunities, flexibility, and social inclusion.
- Enhanced institutional coordination: Strong horizontal and vertical coordination is evident at national and state levels, emphasising the need for similar integration at sub-district levels to ensure cohesive implementation.
- Marketing as skill development as a promising avenue of policy convergence: Effective integration of national and state schemes is showcased in areas such as watershed management and farmer support initiatives, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts. Marketing emerges as a critical convergence point for enhancing farmer incomes, though skill development and farmer organisation formation remain challenging areas requiring focused attention through integrated approaches.
- Established mechanisms for adaptive policy responses to changes: Odisha's significant strides towards integration of climate resilience in agricultural and water resource policies to promote climate-smart practices and efficient resource use marks the adaptability of policies to emerging scientific knowledge. Policies demonstrate flexibility during crises, allowing for adaptive implementation mechanisms that respond to evolving challenges. Regular revisions, incorporating third-party evaluations, ensure policies remain relevant and responsive to on-ground realities.
- Advancing Social Inclusion through innovative and context-specific strategies: Innovative strategies to include vulnerable groups such as landless farmers, tribal communities, and women entrepreneurs, yet highlight a need for enhanced outreach and capacity-building programs to close awareness gaps.
"Policy coherence is the key to unlocking the full potential of Odisha's food, land and water systems. Inter-sectoral collaboration, participatory planning, and data-driven decision- making is enabling the transition towards a water-secure, food-secure and equitable future."
