Climate change is having a negative impact on the Indian agriculture industry. Policies that address farmers’ perceptions of and responses to the quickly changing climate are thought to be essential in overcoming these challenges. With a focus on Scopus and Web of Science, the current study conducts a systematic review of the literature on Indian farmers’ perceptions and adaptations. The majority of Indian farmers, according to the results, have noticed an increase in temperature as well as irregular and decreased rainfall, which is in line with the meteorological data. The majority of the adaptation strategies that Indian farmers appear to have implemented are systemic and incremental in nature.
Climate Change in Global and Indian Context
The study discovered that the farmers’ preferences for various tactics were influenced by a wide range of factors. While education directed farmers to plant multiple crops at once, farming experience guided them to plant drought-resistant crops. They would have been more inclined to plant shorter-duration crops that yielded higher profits rather than the less expensive drought-resistant varieties if they had used a government insurance programme for their crops. The farmers were able to choose an approach that both mitigated climate change and increased revenue because of the assurances provided by government policy. Understanding monsoon patterns played a role in all three decisions.
Challenges Faced by Farmers Due to Climate Change
Farming experiences the effects of climate change as well as contributing to it. Few industries are as climate-sensitive as these:
Variations in precipitation: Throughout the world, precipitation patterns are shifting, bringing longer stretches without rain and more intense bursts of heavy rain, even within the same region. It either doesn’t rain at all or rains far more than the crops can withstand.
Variations in temperature: farming of crops and livestock is impacted by elements like rising average temperatures and longer periods of intense heat. The changes have been reported for years by the wine industry. Temperature increases cause the vine to ripen earlier and bring on earlier harvests. As summers get hotter and months like August experience abnormally high temperatures, it becomes impossible to meet maturation parameters, which disrupts the plant cycle.
Variations in the viability of livestock and crops: farmers choose varieties that best fit the climate where they are planted. They will have to reconsider some of their options as these circumstances change over the ensuing decades. This may require making new capital investments, looking for new markets, or picking up new skills.
Flooding: Flooding and sea level rise both destroy crops, hasten soil erosion, contaminate water, and harm infrastructure connected to farming.
Drought: On the other hand, the lack of water damages crops and limits their ability to grow. Experts caution that longer and more severe droughts will likely follow the slow rise in temperature.
Solutions to Reduce Climate ChangeÂ
Making these solutions available to farmers is a challenging task, but there are solutions. Therefore, it is crucial to provide farmers with effective agri-risk solutions and farming analytics:
Renewably Sourced Energy
Energy is an essential component of all agricultural processes, including planting, harvesting, and cold storage of crops. Reduced dependence on fossil fuels and increased energy efficiency are two critical actions farms can take to lessen their carbon footprint. This can involve using less pesticides and fertilisers derived from petroleum, producing renewable energy on the farm through solar panels and wind turbines, and lowering reliance on fossil fuel inputs for crop production, storage, and transportation.
Natural Methods
Since the middle of the 20th century, conventional farming has become increasingly dependent on fertilisers, herbicides, and pesticides derived from petroleum due to the industrialization of agriculture. Because organic farming forgoes the majority of synthetic inputs, there are fewer greenhouse gas emissions and cleaner soil, water, and food. Moreover, farmers benefit from increased soil fertility and health, which further contributes to climate-friendly benefits, when using organic and sustainable practices.
Encouraging Policies That Are Climate-Friendly
While there are numerous ways to encourage climate-friendly farming on the ground, significant policy changes will be necessary to lessen the effects of climate change and increase climate resilience. CalCAN is actively working to advance policies related to climate-smart agriculture, including research, technical assistance, and incentives to support practices such as renewable energy, healthy soils, farmland conservation, and water stewardship. As citizens, we can encourage our legislators to act immediately in support of climate-aware farmers who are safeguarding our future.
Improving The Health of the Soil
Carbon farming is a significant group of sustainable practices that has a lot of promise for reducing and possibly even reversing the effects of climate change. You can also use a Mahindra tractor for your small farms to improve soil health. Plants take CO2 out of the atmosphere by acting as carbon sinks through photosynthesis. Subsequently, roughly 40% of that carbon is deposited in the soil, where it provides food for nematodes, bacteria, fungus, and protozoa. In exchange, those organisms provide the plants with mineral nutrients, acting as a natural fertiliser. By applying compost, planting cover crops, and cultivating with little to no till, farms can enhance plant matter and improve soil fertility, thereby aiding in the process of sequestering carbon.Â
These are all about Farming in a Changing Climate: Adapting to Environmental Challenges and solutions. I hope you like this blog. For more information like this or about Swaraj 744 Xt, stay connected with us.
