Climate smart agriculture practices in India: A case study of district SAS Nagar, Punjab

Abstract

Climate change presents considerable challenges to global agriculture, necessitating the development of innovative strategies to ensure food security and environmental sustainability. The concept of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) arises as a holistic method that incorporates climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience into agricultural practices. Major components of CSA include crop diversification, improved water and soil management techniques, agroforestry, and use of climate-resilient crop varieties. This paper highlights the principles and practices of CSA in SAS Nagar District, Punjab. 60 farmers from 10 villages were interviewed to assess the changes in cropping pattern in response to climate change. Additionally, the research investigates adoption of water conservation techniques in the era of alarming rates of ground water depletion. The findings offer valuable insights into the effectiveness of CSA techniques adopted by the farmers of the region highlighting its potential to enhance productivity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build adaptive capacity among farming communities.