Climate-resilient agriculture as a solution to food insecurity

In an era where climate change poses an unprecedented threat to mankind, pressure on food resources is escalating. This pervasive threat will continue to present significant environmental, economic, social, and political difficulties. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), nearly 80% of the world’s poor, who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, are severely impacted by climate change. This demonstrates that climate variability poses significant threats to agricultural productivity, food security, and rural livelihoods. However, adopting climate-resilient agricultural practices can mitigate these risks while ensuring long-term sustainability.

Climate and agriculture are intricately interconnected with global processes. Even a small climate change adversely affects agriculture, decreasing production rates. The effects of climate change, through the phenomenon of global warming, increase the average atmospheric temperature. Therefore, it is important to understand climate-resilient agriculture and why it matters. Climate-resilient agriculture broadly refers to agricultural practices, techniques, and systems designed to withstand and adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. It implies implementing strategies that enable farming systems to be resilient and recover from climate-related shocks and stresses. The need for it arises due to climate variability, extreme weather events, shifts in growing seasons, water scarcity, pest and disease management, soil health, food security, and livelihoods.

Unambiguously, climate change and food insecurity are considered the two most important issues facing humanity in the 21st century. According to reports, severe droughts are occurring on the world’s southern continents as a result of climate change, which is having a detrimental influence on agricultural output and farmers’ livelihoods. The increased demand for food is a result of both dietary changes and population growth. By the middle of the twenty-first century, South Asian countries’ food yields are predicted to drop by an average of 30%. Due to unpredictable variations in temperature and rainfall, Bangladesh and the states in North India are particularly vulnerable (World Bank, 2008). Approximately two-thirds of India’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods, with the sector contributing nearly 30% of the country’s GDP. The primary reliance of Indian agriculture on rain-fed irrigation makes it susceptible to anomalies in rainfall, infestation by pests, and extreme weather occurrences.

Natural disaster-related economic losses are increasing on a global scale, with the agriculture sector being particularly susceptible to these events. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) (2018) reports that from 1998 to 2017, disaster-affected nations incurred direct economic losses totalling US$ 2908 billion. Of the total damages, disasters attributable to climate change accounted for 77%. The effects of climate change on the agriculture industry have become more noticeable recently. According to the Government of India’s 2018 economic report, the negative consequences of climate change cause an estimated yearly loss of US$ 9–10 billion. Globally, population increase is putting more pressure on food resources.

By 2050, there will likely be a global population of 9.7 billion people to feed, which will increase the demand for food. Historically, this has been associated with agricultural expansion and unsustainable resource and land use, leading to a vicious cycle and an increase in emissions. Seventy-five percent of South Asians live in rural areas and are poor (Ahluwalia and Malhotra, 2006). Therefore, increasing crop productivity is essential for preserving food supplies and national security, especially for those who are least able to afford it, such as small and marginal farmers (see figure below).

In aiming to improve food security and climate change adaptation, the African Union’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Alliance promotes climate-resilient farming practices across the continent. Programs such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of the African Union Commission prioritize investments in climate-smart agriculture to address the region’s vulnerabilities. Similarly, the Climate-Resilient Agriculture Project (CRAP) in Bangladesh seeks to increase the resilience of smallholder farmers to the impacts of climate change by offering resources, training, and support for climate-smart practices like improved water management and flood-tolerant rice varieties.

Importance of Climate-Resilient Agriculture:

Protecting global food security requires climate-resilient agriculture, especially in areas where the effects of climate change are most likely to be felt. Farmers can offset the negative effects of climate change on crop yields and preserve steady food production by implementing resilient farming methods and technologies. A large percentage of the world’s agricultural labor force consists of smallholder farmers, who are especially susceptible to the effects of climate change. Investing in climate-resilient agriculture can increase the resilience of these farmers’ livelihoods, providing them with the skills and information they need to preserve their income and crops from changing environmental conditions.

Agroforestry, conservation agriculture, and integrated pest management are examples of practices that not only increase resilience to climate change but also contribute to ecosystem conservation and biodiversity preservation. Although agriculture significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, mainly through deforestation, livestock production, and fertilizer use, climate-resilient agriculture can help mitigate climate change by promoting carbon sequestration in soils, reducing emissions from agricultural activities, and enhancing the overall carbon footprint of farming systems.

Some Key Practices for Climate Resilience and Sustainability:

Crop Diversification: Planting a range of crops with distinct characteristics and growth cycles can act as a buffer against climate extremes like droughts and floods. This practice is known as crop diversity. Livestock diversification involves cultivating different species or breeds that are adaptable to diverse environmental circumstances in order to reduce reliance on a single livestock species that is susceptible to climate shocks.

Conservation agriculture: Reduced soil disturbance, ongoing soil cover, and varied crop rotations are the main components of conservation agriculture, which aims to enhance soil quality, water retention, and weather resilience. Techniques such as cover crops and no-till farming preserve water and energy while reducing erosion, improving carbon sequestration, and fostering biodiversity.

Agroforestry: Agroforestry incorporates plants such as shrubs and trees into landscapes used for agriculture to improve soil fertility, regulate microclimates, sequester carbon, and increase biodiversity, among other benefits. Agroforestry systems promote sustainable land management practices and increase resilience to the effects of climate change by diversifying agricultural revenue and improving ecosystem services.

Sustainable water management practices: In addition to boosting agricultural resilience and output, sustainable water management techniques such as drip irrigation, rainwater collection, and efficient water use technologies can help reduce the risk of drought and water scarcity. The implementation of integrated water management strategies, such as watershed management and soil moisture conservation, is beneficial for maintaining ecosystem health and adaptability to fluctuations in precipitation patterns.

Climate-smart technologies: Climate-smart technologies facilitate informed decision-making and help farmers adjust to changing climate circumstances. Examples of these technologies include remote sensing, precision agriculture, and climate forecasting systems. Cutting-edge innovations like biofortified seeds, drought-tolerant crop types, and soil sensors enable farmers to increase yields while decreasing input costs.

Challenges and Way Forward:

The implementation of climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture methods presents several obstacles, despite offering promising solutions to the problems caused by climate change. These obstacles include regulatory and institutional constraints, as well as limited access to knowledge, technology, and funding. Governments, academia, civil society, and the commercial sector must work together to address these issues by promoting policies supportive of research and extension services, funding these services, facilitating knowledge-sharing, and supporting capacity-building programs.

The concept of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) has emerged as a comprehensive strategy to achieve food security and promote sustainable development while addressing issues related to climate change in response to the new challenges brought about by global warming and climate change. It is an integrated approach to landscape management that tackles interconnected issues of food security and climate change by addressing crops, livestock, forests, and fisheries. CSA encompasses a range of farming methods and tools aimed at shifting agricultural systems towards environmentally friendly and climate-resilient practices. It seeks to achieve three primary goals:

1. Increased Productivity: Increase food production and quality while avoiding further depletion of natural resources to raise incomes and enhance nutrition security, particularly for the 75% of the world’s poor who reside in rural regions and are mostly dependent on agriculture.
2. Enhanced Resilience: Enhance the ability to adapt and thrive in the face of longer-term pressures such as increasing seasonal variability and more irregular weather patterns. Reduce vulnerability to diseases, pests, droughts, and other climate-related risks and shocks.
3. Reduced Emissions: Lower greenhouse gas emissions from the food system, prevent deforestation for expanding croplands, and enhance soil and plant carbon sequestration.

The National Innovation on Climate-Resilient Agriculture, National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change, Soil Health Mission, Biotech-Kisan, and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana are a few initiatives taken by the government in India focusing on climate-smart agriculture practices. Some other initiatives include The Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA) and Climate-Smart Agriculture Youth Network (CSAYN).

Conclusion:

Climate-resilient agriculture is not merely an option but a necessity in the face of climate change. Agricultural systems can withstand the challenges brought on by a changing climate while ensuring food security, preserving livelihoods, and reducing environmental degradation by prioritizing resilience, sustainability, and adaptability. Together, governments, legislators, scientists, and farmers can invest in and promote climate-resilient agriculture, creating a more secure and sustainable future for future generations.

References:

https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/need-for-climate-smart-agriculture-in-india/article67569776.ece

https://naarm.org.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ICAR-NAARM-Policy-on-Climate-Change-and-Agriculture_compressed.pdf

https://reliefweb.int/report/world/climate-smart-agriculture-sourcebook-summary-second-edition?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwtqmwBhBVEiwAL-WAYdFL8xEKfj1uwkDeQBw4ttTQBuVavPzShrJfieZiFTLVwQJv0TQmiBoCCnQQAvD_BwE

https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/climate-smart-agriculture