In less than two weeks, the countries will meet for the global climate negotiations at CoP-26. India is one of the most vulnerable countries as its farmers are literally exposed to the heat. Higher ambient temperatures, less predictable rainfall, frequent droughts and cyclones will only get worse in the coming years, increasing the vulnerability of Indian farmers. Could the introduction of sustainable agriculture improve agricultural incomes and food security in a climate changing world? How can we scale it?
The Green Revolution, which once helped India overcome a food crisis, is reaching its limits. Its impact in rain-fed areas remains marginal. Even in irrigated areas, a typical farmer uses 3.5 times more fertilizer today than in 1970 to achieve the same output. Ironically, up to 78% of this fertilizer is lost to the environment, causing soil, air and water pollution. As a result, agricultural income growth is the slowest of any sector in the Indian economy. While high-consumption agriculture has made us calorie-safe, around 22% of adults are underweight and 38% and 59% of children under five are stunted and anemic.
India clearly needs more than doubling its farmers’ incomes to resolve its multidimensional food and agricultural crisis. Sustainable agriculture could be the key. In a report (bit.ly/388KCLp), the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) identified 16 sustainable farming practices (SAPs), such as organic farming, natural farming, integrated farming systems, agroforestry, and precision farming. These could be economically profitable, socially integrative and environmentally friendly. Some states are already at the forefront of this revolution. Sikkim is a 100% organic state and Andhra Pradesh is aiming for 100% natural agriculture by 2027.
Still, sustainable agriculture remains on the sidelines and not a single SAP has been adopted by more than 4% of farmers. The center’s support is limited. India’s National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture receives only 0.8% of the agricultural budget from ₹1.42 trillion. The lack of government support limits the mainstreaming of sustainable agriculture.
Despite the loopholes, there is growing evidence of the impact SAPs have on income, revenue, nutrition, and the environment. Natural and organic farming have improved the net income of farmers by lowering input costs and increasing crop diversification. They have increased annual agricultural production by opening additional growing seasons in rain-fed areas. Some practices also help improve farm resilience to climate change. In 2018, for example, naturally managed rice and banana fields in Andhra Pradesh withstood severe cyclones, while adjacent fields were devastated with conventionally harvested crops.
India should start promoting sustainable agriculture, especially in rain-fed areas where 60% of Indian farmers live. Rainforest-fed farmers practice resource-poor agriculture, have low productivity, and are the main beneficiaries of this transition. In addition, SAPs could enable higher plant diversity and intensity, leading to improved food security and better incomes for small and landless farmers. Here’s what India could do to increase sustainable agriculture.
First, support knowledge sharing and capacity building. Many of these practices are knowledge and skill intensive. Farmers need to hold hands in the early stages. To accelerate this process, the government needs to leverage the presence of more than 1,000 civil society organizations that are already promoting farmer-to-farmer capacity building for sustainable agriculture.
Second, support technology innovation and adoption to mechanize labor-intensive activities related to SAPs. Incentive innovators and entrepreneurs through channels such as the Atal Innovation Mission to encourage the development of agricultural equipment for SAPs. Also, support local micro-businesses through government livelihood missions to produce and sell pre-made inputs such as vermicompost and organic fertilizers.
Third, gradually restructure government support to agriculture through effective farmer engagement and transitional support for short-term losers. Instead of input-based subsidies for fertilizers and electricity, incentivize outcomes such as annual food output per hectare and improved ecosystem services such as water conservation or reversal of desertification. Results-based support could encourage innovation among farmers and allow the adoption of alternative approaches, including SAPs.
Fourth, significantly improve the research and development support for SAPS and for impact studies that compare it to conventional agriculture in agro-climatic zones. Focusing on long-term impact studies at the landscape level could contribute to further scale-ups of SAPs even in irrigated areas. The rigor of regular comparisons of results in the midst of climate change is important for securing agricultural income, food security and natural capital.
Finally, and most importantly, broaden the focus of national policy from nutrition to food security, look beyond yields and measure annual nutrient production per hectare. This profound change of perspective is crucial to staying resilient and healthy in a climate-changing world.
Abhishek Jain is a Fellow and Director of Powering Livelihoods at CEEW, an independent nonprofit political research organization.
Subscribe to something Mint newsletter
* Please enter a valid email
* Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.
Never miss a story again! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our app now !!
