A Comprehensive Review on Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Challenges in Agriculture

Abstract

This review examines the impact of climate change on Indian agriculture and adaptation strategies. Climate change, driven by human activities, poses challenges like rising temperatures and extreme weather events. Rising temperatures can induce heat stress in crops, leading to reduced yields and poor quality produce. Farmers use adaptation measures like altering planting dates and developing climate-resilient crops. Changing rainfall patterns, erratic or insufficient rainfall can trigger drought conditions, parching farmlands and causing crop failures. On the other hand, excessive rainfall can result in flooding, which damages crops and soil, disrupting agricultural operations especially during the monsoon. Soil conservation, precision agriculture, and urban food production initiatives promote food security and resource recycling. Addressing water scarcity requires improved irrigation and efficient water management. Climate change affects agricultural pests population and threatening global food security. Various adaptation strategies, including traditional practices, resource-conservation technologies, and socio-economic interventions, are being implemented. Climate-smart agriculture technologies like precision agriculture increase yields and resilience. Success depends on regional suitability, economic viability, and collective implementation. Agriculture operates within a complex socio-ecological system with uncertainties in policy, economics, and climate. Site-specific climate-smart agriculture practices are crucial for smallholders' resilience and food security. Publicly provided agricultural extension services can help adopt these technologies, but barriers like financial constraints and cultural factors must be considered. This review emphasizes the need for comprehensive, context-specific approaches to address vulnerabilities in Indian agriculture to climate change and ensure a sustainable future for food production and smallholder livelihoods.