Rk Naresh

Adaptation and mitigation in the context of climate change in Indian agriculture involve strategic approaches to manage and reduce the adverse effects of a changing climate on farming practices. Adaptation refers to the adjustments and changes made to agricultural practices, crop selections, and management techniques to cope with new climate realities. This includes the development and adoption of drought-resistant and heat-tolerant crop varieties, improving irrigation infrastructure to manage water scarcity, and implementing sustainable farming practices to maintain soil health and productivity. On the other hand, mitigation involves efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases from agricultural activities. This can include practices such as precision farming, which optimizes input use to minimize emissions, and the adoption of renewable energy sources for farm operations. Farmers' perceptions of climate change in India are increasingly shaped by their direct experiences with its impacts, such as unpredictable weather patterns, prolonged droughts, and increased incidences of extreme weather events. Many farmers recognize the need to adapt to these changes and are receptive to adopting new techniques and crop varieties that can help them sustain their livelihoods. However, there are also challenges, including limited access to resources, financial constraints, and the need for more extensive education and support from government and agricultural institutions. Overall, while there is a growing awareness and willingness among Indian farmers to adapt to climate change, successful implementation of adaptation and mitigation strategies requires coordinated efforts across various levels of society, including government policies, technological innovation, and community engagement.

Dr Rohit Kumar thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Adaptation measures to reduce the negative effects of increased climatic variability as normally experienced in arid and semi-arid tropics may include changing the cropping calendar to take advantage of the wet period and to avoid extreme weather events during the growing season. While mitigation means activities aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions adaptation refers to measures aimed at increasing the ability of people and communities to adapt to climate change and related impacts that will occur in various sectors of human life. In essence, adaptation can be understood as the process of adjusting to the current and future effects of climate change. Mitigation means preventing or reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere to make the impacts of climate change less severe. Climate change reduces crop yields and lower nutrition quality of produce. Extreme events like droughts affect the food and nutrient consumption, and its impact on farmers. Government of India has formulated schemes/plans to make agriculture more resilient to climate change. Agroforestry production is also under threat because of adverse climate change impacts such as depletion of natural resources, predominance of insect pests, diseases and unwanted species, increased damage on agriculture and forests, and enhanced food insecurity. Most of the farmers perceive that in the past 20 years, the temperature levels have risen. About 87 per cent of the farmers noticed an increased number of hot days, while only 4 per cent observed a decrease in the number of hot days, and 9 per cent reported no change in it. These changes are perceived by farmers to lead to the occurrence of prolonged dry seasons or unpredictable excessive rainfall and are often associated with a risk of decreasing crop productivity. Over two-thirds (67%) of the farmers believed that climate change is occurring due to anthropogenic activities. Half (50%) of the farmers disagreed that climate change is happening due to natural changes.

Respected Sir

Rk Naresh

In the context of climate change in Indian agriculture:

Adaptation:

• Adaptation refers to adjusting agricultural practices and systems to minimize vulnerability and maximize resilience to the impacts of climate change.
• In Indian agriculture, adaptation measures include:Crop Diversification: Planting a variety of crops to spread risks associated with climate variability. Water Management: Implementing efficient irrigation techniques and rainwater harvesting to cope with changing precipitation patterns. Use of Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties: Adopting crop varieties that are tolerant to heat, drought, and other climate stressors. Soil Conservation: Implementing soil conservation practices to maintain soil health and fertility. Livelihood Diversification: Diversifying income sources beyond agriculture to reduce reliance on weather-dependent incomes.

Mitigation:

• Mitigation involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions and their concentration in the atmosphere to mitigate the drivers of climate change.
• In Indian agriculture, mitigation strategies include:Promotion of Renewable Energy: Adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar-powered irrigation pumps to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Agroforestry: Integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural landscapes to sequester carbon and mitigate emissions. Conservation Agriculture: Implementing conservation agriculture practices such as minimum tillage to reduce carbon emissions from soil disturbance.

Farmers' Perception on Climate Change in India:

• Farmers in India are increasingly recognizing the impacts of climate change on agriculture, including changing weather patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and declining crop yields.
• Many farmers perceive climate change as a significant threat to their livelihoods, as it affects crop productivity, water availability, and income stability.
• Farmers are adopting various adaptation measures to cope with climate change, but they often face challenges such as limited access to resources, lack of information, and inadequate support from government agencies.
• Enhancing farmers' awareness and capacity to adapt to climate change, providing access to climate-smart technologies and practices, and strengthening support mechanisms are essential for building resilience in Indian agriculture.

Dr Himanshu Tiwari thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Adaptation is the ability to deal with the projected impact of climate change and natural hazards. Rural people have experienced significant changes in rainfall and temperature. Most farmers' perceived drought would lead to livelihood insecurity and yield reduction. Adaptation measures to reduce the negative effects of increased climatic variability as normally experienced in arid and semi-arid tropics may include changing the cropping calendar to take advantage of the wet period and to avoid extreme weather events during the growing season. While mitigation means activities aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions adaptation refers to measures aimed at increasing the ability of people and communities to adapt to climate change and related impacts that will occur in various sectors of human life. Adaptation can be understood as the process of adjusting to the current and future effects of climate change. Mitigation means preventing or reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere to make the impacts of climate change less severe. The country's agricultural production is rising steadily, and in recent years has seen a marked increase in the export of food products. This has resulted in a positive perception of India as a reliable and trustworthy supplier of agricultural produce. These changes are perceived by farmers to lead to the occurrence of prolonged dry seasons or unpredictable excessive rainfall and are often associated with a risk of decreasing crop productivity. Climate change will alter pest, plant disease and weed distributions, with potential to reduce crop yields, including of staple crops like wheat, soybeans, and corn (maize). Warmer temperatures can increase the metabolic rate and number of breeding cycles of insect populations. Climate change reduces crop yields and lower nutrition quality of produce. Extreme events like droughts affect the food and nutrient consumption, and its impact on farmers.