Effect of Agriculture on Climate change

Agriculture's Impact on Climate Change is an important topic from the CBSE Class 12 chapter on Environmental Issues. The questions from this topic are frequently asked in competitive exams like NEET and AIIMS. This article includes information about the impact of climate change on agriculture, emphasizing how agricultural activities contribute to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. The impact of climate change on agriculture in India is also covered in this topic highlighting the unique challenges faced by the country in this context.

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How Agricultural Activities Contribute To Climate Change

Some of the greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture are among the leading causes of global warming. They trap heat in the atmosphere. These include:

• Methane emissions from enteric fermentation of livestock, ruminants such as cattle and sheep
• Production of methane from waterlogged rice cultivation
• Nitrous oxide, a very potent GHG, released as fertilizer is used
• Cuts down carbon-absorbing forests due to the deforestation of farmland.
• Fossil fuel use in mechanical farming, transport, and irrigation
• Production of pesticides and fertilizers

Agriculture contributes to 10–12% of the global inputs of greenhouse gases; however, when indirect impacts of deforestation are added to it the total input may add up to even higher.

Agriculture's Impact On Climate Change In India

• More than half the country's population of India presently lives off agriculture as a source of livelihood.
• Agriculture forms a major share of greenhouse gas emissions from the country, primarily through rice paddies; mainly by releasing methane end.
• Livestock farming (methane from enteric fermentation)
• Burning crop residues, like stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, then emit carbon dioxide and particulate matter into the environment.

Table: Sources of Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions in India

Climatic Change Impact On Agriculture

The impact of climate change on agriculture is described below:

Increased Temperatures

Higher global temperatures cause heat stress to crops, thus lowering their productivity. For instance:

• The yield of wheat and maize would decrease by 10–20% for each rise in temperature by 1°C.
• Even the quality of grains, fruits, and vegetables will degrade, and their nutritional values will also be impacted due to high heat.

Altered Pattern of Rainfall

Monsoon is extremely crucial for Indian agriculture; however, erratic monsoon rain forms due to climate change, which leads to:

• Droughts in certain regions of the world, causing water shortages and crop failures
• Flooding in another region, creating soil erosion and damage to crops
• Reduced supply of irrigation water as a result of water shortage

Soil Degradation And Desertification

Climate change accelerates soil degradation in several ways:

• High temperatures lead to increased evaporation that dries soils
• Heavy rains during such extreme climatic events can strip away fertile topsoils
• Increased drought spells lead to desertification in vulnerable parts of the globe

Impact Of Climate Change On Agriculture In India

India is a monsoon-dependent country and thus highly vulnerable to climatic change. Major impacts would include the following:

• Yields of staple foods, rice and wheat, are likely to have substantially reduced yields.
• The availability of water for irrigation will no longer be predictable, and regions like Punjab and Haryana will suffer from water stress.
• Destructive cyclones, droughts, and floods are causing extreme climatic conditions in the states of Maharashtra, Odisha, and West Bengal and damaging crops.

How To Reduce The Impact Of Climate Change On Agriculture

Reducing climate change's impact on agriculture is crucial for sustainable food production and involves adopting practices that enhance resilience and minimize environmental harm.

Sustainable Farming Practices

Sustainable farming has a tendency to minimize the effects of agriculture on climate change immensely. These include;

• Organic farming: Minimum use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides; that is likely to minimize the emission of nitrous oxide.
• Agroforestry: Planting trees on agricultural land in order to sequester carbon and prevent soil erosion.
• Conservation tillage: Minimization of soil disturbance preserves the soil structure, consequently reducing carbon release into the atmosphere.

Better Water Management

Water conservation through efficient irrigation systems that minimize stress during droughts. Techniques include:

• Drip irrigation: Releases water directly to the plant roots, thereby reducing water evaporation
• Harvesting rainwater: Collected rainwater for dry use

Reduction Of Emission Of Methane By Livestock

Several methods of reducing methane emission:

• Livestock diet improvement: Livestock with better food quality yields a lower release of methane while digesting.
• Chemical controls of methane: Use of feeding elements that can inhibit production within the ruminating animals

Crop Rotation And Diversification

• Crop rotation and agricultural diversity on a site enhance soil productivity and minimize pest incidence, and subsequently pesticide application.

Afforestation And Reforestation

• Reforestation revives biodiversity and tackles the direct consequences of historical deforestation for agricultural purposes.

Government Programs And Policies

In India, government programs have established some of the following initiatives:

• The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, NMSA features sustainability in farming.
• The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): It focuses on the improvement of agricultural water use efficiency.

Tips, Tricks, And Strategies To Prepare For Agriculture's Impact On Climate Change

• Study Aids: Find diagrams or flowcharts that could identify how human practices related to agriculture could be linked to climate change, perhaps focusing on details such as greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation.
• Mnemonics: Use a mnemonic like "CROP" - Carbon, Resources, Overuse, Practices to remember what aspects of agriculture contribute to climate change
• Multimedia: Find videos or animations that describe how climate change might affect agriculture, with examples of lower yields and changed agricultural practices.
• Real-Life Connection: Associate agricultural activities, for instance, overuse of fertilizers with real-life consequences, such as water pollution and changes in weather conditions.
• Flashcards: Flashcards can be used to memorize words like "sustainable agriculture," "soil erosion," and "carbon sequestration," and check how well you understand their relevance to climate change.

Weightage Of Questions From Agriculture's Impact On Climate Change In Different Exams

Types Of Questions Asked On Agriculture's Impact on Climate Change In Different Exams

Conclusion

Agriculture is an industry that contributes to climate change. Agriculture contributes to greenhouse gas emissions in many ways. One of the most important ways agriculture contributes to climate change is through fertilisers. This fertilizer contains nitrates that do not exist in nature, and when these nitrates break down, methane gas is released into the atmosphere. Sectors such as meat, dairy, and poultry contribute most of the world's greenhouse gases, accounting for about one-third of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Agriculture is one way to reduce carbon emissions while meeting ever-increasing demand. One strategy for doing this is to change the focus of cattle production to include the development of larger crops.

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