Explained: How Does Climate Smart Agriculture Help Adapt To And Mitigate Climate Change

In light of India's 2070 carbon neutrality goal planned at the CoP26 in Glasgow, the Union Budget for 2022-23 includes "climate policy" and "energy revolution" as one of Amrit Kaal's four priority areas.

Agriculture accounts for 73% of the nation's methane emissions. Despite becoming the world's 3rd largest emitter of methane, India has opted out of the new EU-US agreement to reduce methane emissions by at least 30 percent by 2030.

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Farming, in particular, emits significant amounts of nitrous oxide and methane, two potent greenhouse gases. As a result, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is gaining popularity all over the world in order to meet the set of climate challenges while further generating food and energy in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner.

What is a climate-smart agriculture technique?

Climate-smart agriculture, as described by Food and Agricultural Organizations (FAO), is identified as raising agricultural production in a sustainable manner, having to adapt to and construct resilience to climate, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. CSA is a strategy for increasing technical, policy, and investment in the environment in order to achieve sustainable agricultural growth and food security in the face of climate change.

Experts believe that a range of techniques can be used to meet the goals of climate smart farming. For instance, the use of inclusive renewable energy sources for agriculture such as windmills, solar panels, pyrolysis units, and bio-energy-powered water pumps is critical for energy-efficient food systems.

Resource-conserving technologies (RCTs) such as zero tillage allow farmers to grow wheat fairly shortly after paddy or cotton produce to prevent warmer temperatures that are detrimental to grain development.

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According to reports, the rise of recently developed variants that are heat, drought, and salinity tolerant is also an improved CSA technique. It is essential to recognize territories and crops that are particularly vulnerable to climate change so that they can be relocated to more suitable areas. According to experts, weather forecasting and early warning systems can help to reduce the risks of climatic change. Administrators and scientists can benefit from the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in the organizing of emergency plans.

Experts say computer-aided crop growth methods can help determine the potential impact of climate change on potential agricultural output, as well as the innovation of climate-smart agriculture and mitigation strategies. Crop models allow for the variability of environmental aspects such as water system and temperature, and they simulate crop response through a variety of projected growth parameters such as agricultural output.

The CSA approach seeks to achieve three goals: increased productivity, enhanced resilience, and emissions reductions.

Reducing emissions

India stands 3rd in total GHG emissions, releasing approximately 2.6 billion tonnes (Bt) CO2eq per year. As per reports, agricultural emissions in India are largely caused by the livestock sector (54.6 percent), the use of nitrogen fertilizer (19 percent), rice cultivation (17.5%), livestock management (6.9%), and agricultural residues burning (2.1 percent ).

The destruction is mainly the result of multiple types of subsidies ¡ª on urea, canal irrigation, and irrigation power. The concentration of Minimum Support Prices (MSP) and government procurement policies in a few regions and primarily on 2 crops, rice, and wheat, has resulted in their increased production.

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According to reports, the state's central pool of rice and wheat stocks was 4 times greater than the buffer stocking demand as of 1 January 2022. Amidst record rice allocation in the Public Distribution System (PDS) and exports in 2020-21, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) rice stocks are 7 times the buffer standards for rice. According to experts, this figure depicts not only inefficient utilization of limited capital, but as well as the huge portion of greenhouse gases (GHG) ingrained in these stocks.

According to FAO, if current manufacturing and consumption trends continue, the agricultural output should rise by 60% by 2050 to satisfy the world's population's food demand. Lowering emission intensity levels per yield will be needed to ensure food security and sustainable agriculture goals while adapting to climate change.

Improving food security through moderate climate change, using natural resources sustainably, using all goods more competently, and having less inconsistency and better reliability in their outputs. More effective and versatile agriculture prompts a significant transformation in the management of land, water, soil nutrients, and genetic resources via climate-smart agriculture methods.

Boosting food security

Climate-smart agriculture explicitly seeks efficiencies and trade-offs between food security, modification, and mitigation. Several farming methods contribute to both of these goals at the same time.

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Farmers who plant trees to avoid soil degradation also help to mitigate climate change by wanting to remove atmospheric co2. There are initiatives for which the main goal is to reduce emissions by stopping deforestation and forest degradation. These, however, can benefit indigenous communities as well.

As a result, one component of climate-smart agroecosystems is the handling of farms, crops, livestock, aquaculture, and gathering fisheries to maintain near-term food security and survival needs with adaptation and mitigation priorities. Ecosystem and landscape governance for the conservation of ecological systems critical to food security, agricultural development, adaptation, and mitigation.

When comparing climate-smart agriculture and organic farming, the former is defined by its desired outcomes¡ªresilient, productive, and low-emission agricultural systems. The method of production defines organic agriculture (no use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers). Many organic farming practices, on the other hand, are climate-smart.

Climate-smart agriculture vs and organic farming

When comparing climate-smart agriculture and organic farming, the former is characterized by its preferred outputs, productive, and low-emission agricultural structures. The technique of production defines organic agriculture (no use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers). Many organic farming practices, on the other hand, are climate-smart.

Organic agriculture, according to experts, improves natural nutrient cycling and increases organic matter in the soil, which can help with climate change resilience and carbon sequestration in soils. As a result, we can conclude that climate-smart agriculture can be more efficient and useful.

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