Climate Smart Agriculture and its adoption in Pakistan

Introduction

Where automobiles, aviation, and industrial zones are putting a share in carbon emissions; the agriculture sector is no exception. Operations at farms and livestock have a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions; one-third of carbon emissions. Carbon emissions have led to climate change, hampering crop production. Climate-smart agriculture will reduce emissions and climate change which is a positive step toward food security and reduction in poverty globally so the world needs sustainable crop production with less carbon emissions from agroecosystems.

Explanation

A comprehensive and integrated approach is needed to address the interconnected challenges of food security and climate change. This requires coordinated efforts at global and regional levels, encompassing research, policy development, and investment. Collaboration between private, public, and farming communities is needed to make these practices more in practice. By implementing appropriate practices, policies, and investments, the agricultural sector can transition to climate-smart agricultural practices. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) can be integrated with government policies, expenditure plans, and planning frameworks. In short, climate-smart agriculture involves a range of practices such as cultivating drought-resistant crops, diversifying crops, optimizing water use through efficient irrigation and improved water management, and adopting technologies like precision agriculture. Additionally, practices like agroforestry, reduced tillage, and improved livestock management contribute to mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration.

Essential objectives

The objectives are: increasing food production to meet the demands of a growing population while ensuring food quality and minimizing environmental impact; enhancing resilience to climate-related risks such as droughts, pests, and diseases; and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from agroecosystems.

Adoption in Pakistan

A research paper highlights that the implementation of climate-smart agricultural practices in Pakistan includes the use of bed seeders and laser land levelling, besides measures such as optimizing water use through indirect irrigation and improved drainage management, minimizing tillage and fallow periods, and developing and cultivating crop varieties that can withstand drought and waterlogging situation.