: This Ancient Agricultural Method Helps Farmers Fight Climate Change Increase Income #IndiaNEWS #Agriculture “The climate catastrophe timer is going to go off, and we dont have much time,�? reads

This Ancient Agricultural Method Helps Farmers Fight Climate Change Increase Income #IndiaNEWS #Agriculture
“The climate catastrophe timer is going to go off, and we dont have much time,�? reads the 2021 IPCC report. With a growing global population and changing dietary habits pushing up food consumption, agriculture is one of the key sectors where reform is required. So, we cannot afford to put climate security needs on the backbench for the sake of economic progress.

The global dilemma of food insecurity is exacerbated by agricultures acute sensitivity to climate change, which is already having a detrimental impact, considering rising temperatures, increased weather unpredictability, shifting agroecosystem boundaries, invasive crops and pests, and more frequent extreme weather events. Climate change is affecting agricultural yields, the nutrition quality of main grains, and livestock output on farms. Significant adaptation expenditures have become necessary to sustain existing yields and enhance production and food quality to fulfil demand.

It has become imperative that Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), i. e. sustainable agriculture, techniques be implemented. Agroforestry is one such promising solution for Indias agriculture. It is the practice of integrating trees and shrubs with crops and livestock.

It is a long-term agricultural strategy that can help farmers by boosting production, restoring soil balance, enhancing profitability, and giving other revenue streams. It can also assist in moderating climate change by regulating the microclimate, protecting natural variety, sequestering carbon, holding rainwater, and reducing soil erosion. Agroforestry is thought to efficiently fulfil 9 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) linked to poverty and hunger reduction, climate change, ecological balance, responsible consumption, and enhancement of agricultural productivity.

Agroforestry can help farmers boost production and restore soil balance; Representational image: Pixabay

An example of the benefits of agroforestry can be seen in the state of Assam where Balipara Foundation has been running an agroforestry programme in Baligao Green Village, since 2020, with only two key requirements – 1 bigha clear land and water.

The organisation is teaching agroforestry to the villagers in their available household farmland. In the agroforestry model, Balipara has taken up seven-layer crops with moringa tree in the first layer, then papaya, lemon and king chilli and between these crops in empty patches, turmeric, ginger and sweet potato.

Locals find the method of farming extremely beneficial as soil fertility is preserved, the effort is reduced, farming takes place throughout the year, the farmers don’t need to replant for 4-5 years after one plantation, and income also increases with the frequent agricultural yield.