THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, JUNE 1, 2026

Ahead of the monsoon season, Reliance Foundation has launched India’s first training programme based on global standards for crop protection in emergencies, beginning in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The initiative aims to strengthen the preparedness and resilience of farming communities vulnerable to natural disasters and climate-related risks.

The five-day training programme brought together 30 practitioners from eight states, including representatives from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and partner organisations, to build expertise in safeguarding crop-dependent livelihoods during emergencies. Through a cascading model, the trained participants will conduct similar programmes across 22 districts, ultimately reaching nearly 3,000 villages in eight states.

The training integrates the internationally recognised Standards for Supporting Crop-Related Livelihoods in Emergencies (SEADS) with India’s National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) framework and climate-smart agriculture approaches. The objective is to equip field professionals with practical tools and strategies for preparedness, crop protection, recovery and long-term resilience-building.

India’s high vulnerability to natural disasters underscores the importance of protecting agricultural livelihoods. SEADS provides evidence-based minimum standards that guide humanitarian and development practitioners in designing, implementing and evaluating quality agricultural interventions during crises.

 “A strong network of trained practitioners equipped with practical, field-ready approaches will safeguard crop-dependent livelihoods in emergencies by touching the lives of approximately one lakh agricultural farmers over the next five years through enhanced preparedness and response capacities,” said Animesh Prakash, Head – Disaster Management, Reliance Foundation.

He added, “The unique aspect of this training is the integration of global frameworks such as SEADS with locally relevant practices and collaborative learning. Over the next year, the programme aims to strengthen preparedness and support long-term resilience in rural communities.”

Welcoming the initiative, Prof. Umasankar Nayak, Joint Director, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), Bhubaneswar, said, “These trainings by Reliance Foundation will go a long way in developing a cadre of trained professionals with the right knowledge and skills to enhance community resilience and response capacities. We have seen the impact of scientific approaches in protecting vulnerable communities.”

The programme enhanced participants’ understanding of emergency preparedness and response by combining SEADS standards with climate-resilient and climate-smart agricultural practices. It focused on developing practical, field-oriented approaches to support timely and informed interventions before, during and after disasters, while strengthening broader community resilience efforts.

Participants included experts from Reliance Foundation, representatives from KVKs in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, and implementation partners from Gujarat, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Odisha. The initiative also served as a platform for cross-learning among professionals working in agriculture, disaster risk reduction and livelihood development.

The training featured technical sessions by agroecologist Anshuman Das, Prof. Umasankar Nayak, Hansen Thambi Prem of Reliance Foundation, and climate expert Krishna Mohan, who is trained in Asia-Pacific SEADS Standards. A virtual session was also delivered by Shawn McGuire from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

As part of the programme, participants visited Naruda village in Puri district, adopted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Sakhigopal, where they interacted with farmers and observed crop-livelihood protection models being implemented at the community level.

Through such initiatives, Reliance Foundation aims to continuously strengthen field-level capacities and promote collaborative, locally relevant solutions that enhance agricultural resilience and support sustainable rural livelihoods, even in the face of extreme emergencies and disasters.