Climate Smart Agriculture Practices in India

Abstract

According to the World Bank, Climate-smart agriculture encompasses the comprehensive management of landscapes, including land under cultivation, livestock, woodland areas, and aquatic resources, addressing the interconnected issues of food security and climate change. United Nations Population Fund or UNFPAs Population dashboard shows India’s population at 1406.6 million with an annual average rate of population increase at 0.9% from 2020-25. To meet this food demand, it is imperative for India to adapt sustainable agricultural practices. The IPCC (Inter-governmental panel on climate change) report has pointed out that climate change has affected food security due to global warming and extremes of temperatures around the World. In light of these facts, India faces the unique challenge of developing a path of enhancing the country’s food supply, ensuring water availability while minimizing agricultural GHGs (Greenhouse emissions) which are estimated to be 14% of its total GHG emissions. In the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index (CRI), India was ranked 7th, with a CRI score of 16.67. This paper aims at understanding the theoretical and conceptual framework of climate smart agriculture and presents an insight into how the objectives of food sufficiency, change in climatic conditions and greenhouse gas emissions are being met in India through policies, institutions and financial models.