Need for climate-smart agriculture in India

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Last Updated26/11/2023

The two most important issues facing humanity in the 21st century are climate change and food insecurity.

Climate change, through factors like heat waves, floods, and droughts, is affecting global food production and farmers’ livelihoods.
The demand for food is increasing due to population growth and dietary changes, adding pressure on agricultural systems.
As a result of climate change, traditional farming practices are becoming less productive.
There is a need for a radical reform in the agriculture industry to sustainably increase production.

The Food and Agriculture Organization said in 2019
- Climate-smart agriculture is an approach for transforming food and agriculture systems to support sustainable development and safeguard food security under climate change.
Climate-smart agriculture focuses on three pillars viz.
- Increasing agricultural productivity and incomes
- Adapting and building resilience to climate change
- Reducing or removing greenhouse gas emissions, where possible
CSA is more of a flexible concept with a wide range of potential applications.

Climate change is affecting agricultural productivity, leading to a decline in crop yields.
In India, crop yield decline due to climate change is estimated to be as high as 9% by 2039.

It provides a holistic approach to transform food and agriculture systems, addressing sustainability and food security under climate change.
It includes practices such as water-smart, weather-smart, energy-smart and carbon-smart practices.
They improve productivity, deal with land degradation, and improve soil health.
CSA promotes crop diversification, water efficiency, and the integration of drought-resistant crops, reducing the disruptive effects of climate change.
Also, CSA causes a dramatic change in farming communities’ economic and social structure by distributing information and providing access to climate-resilient methods.

CSA is gaining recognition globally, with an increase in community-supported agriculture efforts.
These efforts aim to create resilient and environmentally friendly agricultural systems, incorporating agroforestry, sustainable water management, and precision agriculture.

CSA's ecosystem-based approach and diverse crop varieties contribute to biodiversity conservation by promoting coexistence between cropland and wild areas.
It helps protect native plant species, maintain stable pollinator populations, and mitigate habitat degradation.

The agricultural sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
- The sector’s share in GHG’s emissions in 2018 was 17%.
CSA implementation is crucial for lowering GHG emissions and enhancing farmland carbon storage.
It aligns with global goals, such as the Paris Agreement, to combat climate change.

India, with a large population of small and marginal farmers, is at a unique juncture where CSA adoption is essential.
CSA can play a significant role in helping them increase their profits.

The National Action Plan on Climate Change emphasises the role of climate-resilient agriculture in India’s adaptation measures.
National Innovation on Climate Resilient Agriculture, Soil Health Mission, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Biotech-KISAN, and Climate Smart Village are a few examples of government initiatives in India focusing on CSA.
- For e.g. Soil Health Card Scheme uses precision nutrient management to optimise agricultural methods.
Various public and private sector entities such as farmer-producer organisations and NGOs are also working towards the adoption of CSA.

CSA has the potential to assure food security, empower farmers and protect our delicate ecosystems.
It merges innovation, resilience, and sustainability, providing inspiration for a sustainable future in the face of climate change.