Climate Smart Agriculture
Context:
The surge in population and dietary shifts alongside repercussions of climate change, heat waves , flash floods and droughts, it compounds the demand for food, intensifying the strain on the already taxed agricultural systems.
Relevance:
GS – 03 (Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Conservation)
Prelims:
CSA, Climate Change, Glacial lake Outburst, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),
Mains Question:
Evaluate Climate-Smart Agriculture’s Role in Mitigating Climate Change and Ensuring Food Security.(250 words)
Dimensions of the Article:
- Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)
- Implications of Climate Change on Agricultural Productivity
- Global Acknowledgment of CSA
- CSA’s Ecological Impact
Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)
- Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an approach that aids in managing agricultural systems in a climate-responsive manner.
- The concept of CSA encompasses three pillars: increasing agricultural productivity sustainably, adapting to climate change, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions where feasible.
- There are many dimensions within this framework, such as water-smart, weather-smart, energy-smart, and carbon-smart practices, each contributing to improved productivity, soil health, and land degradation mitigation.
Implications of Climate Change on Agricultural Productivity
- Foreseeing a potential 9% decline in crop yields in India by 2039 due to climate change, there emerges a pressing need for radical reforms in the agricultural sector.
- The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals provide a blueprint, with CSA at its core, aiming to eradicate hunger and enhance environmental stewardship.
Global Acknowledgment of CSA
- Internationally, CSA gains recognition as a viable approach to minimize and adapt to climate change’s impacts on agriculture. Community-supported agriculture initiatives witness a surge globally, promoting resilient and eco-friendly farming systems.
- Examples like agroforestry, sustainable water management, and precision agriculture highlight the tangible application of CSA principles.
- The adoption of CSA not only mitigates climate-related risks but also catalyzes a significant shift in the economic and social structure of farming communities.
- Farmers gain economic autonomy through the dissemination of climate-resilient methods, bringing about a transformative impact, particularly for disadvantaged farmers.
CSA’s Ecological Impact
- Beyond economic benefits, CSA fosters an ecosystem-based approach, enabling cropland and wild regions to coexist harmoniously.
- Crop diversification, increased water efficiency, and integration of drought-resistant crops contribute to biodiversity conservation, stabilizing pollinator populations and mitigating habitat degradation.
- Recognizing the substantial contribution of the agricultural sector to greenhouse gas emissions, CSA becomes instrumental in lowering emissions and preserving biodiversity.
- Agroforestry and carbon sequestration emerge as concrete measures aligning with the Paris Agreement’s global warming limitations.
- India’s CSA Initiatives: In the Indian context, CSA finds resonance in various government initiatives, such as the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change, National Innovation on Climate Resilient Agriculture, and others. These initiatives, alongside private sector efforts and NGOs, collectively work towards the widespread adoption of CSA practices.
Way Forward:
- Government initiatives, both at the national and grassroots levels, alongside public and private sector collaborations is the need of the hour.
- The transformative potential of CSA lies in its ability to ensure food security, empower farmers economically, and safeguard ecosystems in the face of a changing climate.
- The imperative to navigate the challenges of climate change and food insecurity necessitates a shift towards sustainable agricultural practices. CSA, with its multifaceted dimensions, offers a pragmatic and holistic approach to address these challenges.
