Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
To cope with the challenges of climate change,
crop production must adapt (e.g., crop varietal
selection, plant breeding, cropping patterns, and
ecosystem management approaches) and become
resilient to changes (frequency and intensity).
Adapting cropping practices and approaches will
be related to local farmers' knowledge, require-
ments, and priorities. Sustainable crop produc-
tion provides farmers with options for farming
sustainably, taking into account the local ecosys-
tem. Most adaptation options build on existing
practices and sustainable agriculture rather than
new technologies. Changes to water and soil
management will be central to adaptation for
most farming systems. Pest and disease manage-
ment will also be critical.
Improving adaptation of the agricultural sec-
tor to the adverse effects of climate change will
be imperative for protecting and improving the
livelihoods of the poor and ensuring food secu-
rity (FAO
2012
). Environmental stresses have
always had an impact on crop production, and
farmers have always looked for ways to manage
these stresses. In practical terms, climate change
adaptation requires more than simply maintain-
ing the current levels of performance of the agri-
cultural sector; it requires developing a set of
robust and yet fl exible responses that will improve
the sector's performance even under the changing
conditions brought about by climate change
engenders. Some ways of local adaptation to
stress is through plant breeding, pest manage-
ment strategies, and seed delivery systems, to
name a few.
Indeed, by improving the effi ciency of agri-
cultural production, emissions can be reduced
and sequestration capacity enhanced. Conversely,
climate change will have a signifi cant impact on
crop production, but alternative adaptation
approaches and practices can address this by
helping to reduce the net GHG emissions while
maintaining or improving yields (FAO
2011
;
Pretty et al.
2011
).
Examples of changes in climatic conditions
that infl uence crop systems include rain quantity
and distribution, and consequently water avail-
ability; extreme events, such as fl oods and
droughts; higher temperatures; and shifting
seasons. The rate of climate change may exceed
the rate of adaptation for natural systems, includ-
ing crops, and this creates high concern for food
availability (Allara et al.
2012
). In essence, what
this means is that crops that were usually planted
in one area may no longer be able to grow there.
In addition, the ecosystem services that ensure
crop growth (e.g., pollination, soil biodiversity)
may also be affected. For these reasons, it is
necessary to address crop production at the
farming systems level. With appropriate techni-
cal, institutional, socioeconomic, and policy
infrastructure in place, there is a huge potential
for crop management practices and approaches to
adapt to, and contribute to, the mitigation of
climate change.
Different approaches and practices for
sustainable crop production can contribute to
climate change adaptation. They provide options
for location-specifi c contexts and should be
adapted with local farmers/farming communities
(FAO-PAR
2011
;
FAO 2012
). Examples include:
Ecosystem-based approaches
Conservation agriculture
Integrated nutrient and soil management
Mulch cropping
Cover cropping
Alterations in cropping patterns and rotations
Crop diversifi cation
Ecological pest management
Grassland management
Water and irrigation management
Landscape-level pollination management
Organic agriculture
12.2.2 Cultural Practices
Simple, affordable, and accessible technologies
like mulching and use of shelters and raised beds
help to conserve soil moisture, prevent soil deg-
radation, and protect crops from heavy rains,
high temperatures, and fl ooding. The use of
organic and inorganic mulches is common in
high-value crop production systems. These pro-
tective coverings help reduce evaporation, mod-
erate soil temperature, reduce soil runoff and
erosion, protect grains/fruits from direct contact
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