Climate Change Adaptation - Climate Resilient Agriculture for Ensuring Food Security - page 263

12.14.1 Potential Adaptation

Options in Indian
Agriculture

of the operation and its risks. Social complexity
involves the diversity of values which are at
stake when the option will be implemented,
the changes which are necessary in the per-
ceptions of stakeholders, the necessity of their
cooperation, etc. As the institutional complex-
ity of implementing an adaptation grows,
there are more adjustments of the offi cial,
bureaucratic organizations, existing proce-
dures and arrangements necessary, and more
cooperation between institutional separated
domains, thus resulting in a bigger tension
with existing practices and structures. Scores
are attached on 1-5 scale, ranging from very
low (1) to very high (5) complexities.

A case study from literature and consultations
with the stakeholders, 27 adaptation options were
identifi ed. A brief description of these options,
which potentially can reduce the vulnerability of
the Indian agriculture to the effects of climate
change, has been provided in Table 12.8 . As the
options have been taken from the literature or
have been suggested by a wide range of stake-
holders, they include a large variety.
Out of these 27 potential options, the 10 adap-
tation options having the highest priority were
identifi ed. These options were climate-ready

Table 12.8 Climate change adaptation technologies in Indian agriculture based on literature survey and stakeholder
consultation
Adaptation option Description of the option
1. Climate-ready crop varieties Crop varieties tolerant to drought, fl ood, and heat, giving higher yield even under
extreme climatic conditions
2. Water-saving technologies Drip, sprinkler, and laser-aided land leveling to increase water-use effi ciency
3. Changing planting date Changing planting date (early or late sowing) to avoid heat stress during
fl owering and maturity of crop
4. Integrated farming system Inclusion of crop, livestock, and fi shery in farming system to sustain livelihood,
particularly of poor farmers
5. Growing different crops Growing tolerant/resistant crops to withstand the adverse impacts of climate
change
6. Integrated pest management Combining physical, chemical, and biological methods of pest management
7. Crop insurance Incentives to farmers for covering risks of climatic extremes
8. Organic farming Use of organic sources of nutrients, avoiding the use of chemical pesticides
9. Conservation agriculture Zero tillage, crop rotation, residue cover of soil
10. Precision farming Precise management of water, nutrients, and pest
11. Improved nutrient management Site-specifi c demand-driven and balanced use of nutrients
12. Use of effi cient microbes Use of microbes for enhancing soil fertility and crop productivity

13. Rainwater harvesting To reduce runoff loss and recharge groundwater

14. Waste land management Developing wastelands through water and nutrient management for forestry,

agro-forestry, grassland, and crop production

15. Improved weather-based
agro-advisory

Forecasting of weather, particularly extreme agro-advisory events, for crop
management planning

16. Growing crops in polyhouse Protected cultivation of crops in polyhouse for control of temperature, moisture,

pests, etc.

17. Increasing irrigation facilities Bringing more area under irrigation through minor irrigation schemes, check

dams, shallow tube wells

18. Intercropping/mixed cropping Growing more than one crop to increase productivity and avoid crop failure

19. Creation of seed bank To provide quality seed to poor farmers, especially useful in case of late onset of

monsoon or failure of germination of fi rst sowing

20. Intensifying crop production Increasing crop production through intensive use of fertilizer and irrigation. This

would provide enough food for the years of low production

(continued)