Sections
Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture
Impact of Agriculture on Climate
Contribution of Agriculture in Mitigating Climate Change
Adaptation to Climate Change through Sustainable Agriculture Practices
Food Security in Climate Change Scenarios

Section I Basics of Climate Change

This section gives a general overview about climate change and global warming and their effect on various aspects of our lives such as Health, Environment, and Agriculture.

We will also discuss about the world's major emitters and non-emitters of Greenhouse gases, negotiations between developed and developing countries on emissions cutting, and who gains or who loses.


What is Climate change?
Climate change can manifest itself in gradual changes in temperature, precipitation and a rise in sea level, resulting in changes in frequency, intensity and duration of extreme events. Global warming means earth getting warmer and resulting in an ecological imbalance.
Latest Editions...
Sustainable Agriculture Issues and Action Points - from Towards Sustainable Communities, INECC
Sustaining agriculture in the era of climate change in India
from Centre for Sustainable Agriculture

  1. Green house Gases
  2. Contributions to GHG Emissions   | World  | India
  3. North South Divide

Section II Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture

Scientists are studying very closely the effect of climate change in different fields including agriculture. Various studies have indicated that rise in temperature is going to affect the agricultural production though its contribution to green house gas emission is only 28 percent. Climate change is already upon us. What should cause concern in India is the evidence gradually unfolding, that Indian agriculture, despite being a relatively minor contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, will be a big loser if global temperatures rise. On top of the ominous prophecy of a 10-40 per cent drop in India's farm production by 2080-2110. [1] [2]

 

  1. Agro-Ecological Zones
  2. Impact of Climate on Major Crops

[1] Vulnerable agriculture by The Business Standard,  25/01/2008 

[2] Climate change may lead to 40% loss in food production by Surinder Sud. The Business Standard,  21/01/2008

Section III  Impact of Agriculture on Climate

People are changing their approach towards agriculture. Agriculture is getting more and more commercialized. We are competing with one another for increasing the production of food. Instead of enhancing a culture of food production, we are adopting an industrial approach to agriculture. This is affecting the quality of food which we eat. We are also risking our lives by ruining our environment. In this section we shall discuss how changes in the process of food production are leading us towards global warming. Apart from the process of food production, the process of food distribution is also responsible for global warming. We shall examine what we eat and what kinds of food habits are responsible for high levels of emissions.

  1. Contribution of Agriculture in GHG emission
  2. Food System
  3. Food Habits 

Section IV Contribution of Agriculture in Mitigating Climate Change

There are various ways with which we can set limits to our GHG emission. We must aim to adopt the technology and knowledge which reduce the emission of GHG especially in the agricultural sector. This process is called Mitigation to Climate Change. Experts say modern industrial agriculture is causing problems and traditional agriculture maybe a possible solution. However, both are so interconnected with each other that it is difficult to isolate traditional and modern ways of food production. Let us see the sustainable ways of agriculture through which we could mitigate climate change.

  1. Cultivation of Rice
  2. Organic Agriculture
  3. Development of Resource Conserving Technologies
  4. Multiple-cropping or Inter-cropping
  5. Turning Vegetarian
  6. Agro-forestry
  7. Carbon Sequestration
  8. Localization of food
  9. Livestock Management
  10. Soil Management
  11. Afforestation and promotion to wetlands

Section V Adaptation to Climate Change through Sustainable Agriculture Practices

Adaptation is a critical response to climate change, and it has the potential to reduce adverse impacts of climate change and enhance beneficial impacts. It is in a way complementary to mitigation, because benefits of mitigation actions emerge over decades but adaptation measures will help to maintain the efficacy of mitigation. Extremes, variability, and rates of change are all key features in addressing vulnerability and adaptation to climate change. Human and natural systems will to some degree adapt autonomously to climate change. But planned adaptation can supplement autonomous adaptation.

There are a range of activities in the field of agriculture that can help us to adjust with the changing climatic conditions. In this section we will discuss only those aspects which will help us to adapt to the climate change.

  1. Multi cropping and intercropping
  2. Agro-forestry
  3. Maintaining diversity
  4. Drought and flood tolerant crops
  5. Irrigation and Rain water harvesting
  6. Food distribution
  7. Weather control
  8. Study and research

Section VI Food Security in Climate Change Scenarios

Conclusion
Researchers are doing experiments with gene crops to make them flood or drought resistant. This may help us to adapt to our changing environment but may have negative consequences. Also this may or may not be region specific. Genetic modification of crops is being considered as a threat to our bio-diversity. Genetic modification will affect us in the same way as air conditioners in our homes affect our health. Let us look at our agriculture system from another perspective.


This docsweb has been prepared by Vaijanti Mamtora
with inputs from John and Walter.
Suggestions/feedback is welcome.
(cedban@doccentre.net)
Special thanks to CED Team
Copy left April 2008