The wanted change against climate change: assessing the role of organic farming as an adaptation strategy

Conventional input intensive agriculture practised over the last century has been a major contributor to climate change, second only to energy sector. The communities engaged in pesticide and synthetic input rich agriculture is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Many emerging economies including India have had the opportunity to develop National Adaptation Plans of Action in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change but implementation of those programmes and strategic links to resourcing actions are often lacking. Adaptation in the agricultural sector can be seen in terms of both short-term and long-term actions. Changing to organic farming systems is the most efficient and long term adaptation strategy. Organic agriculture is believed to be the most sustainable approach against climate change ensuring food security; it employs low external input and high output strategies. This paper attempts to review the potent role of organic agriculture as an adaptation strategy to deliver a tangible and hopeful alternative towards sustainable livelihood in the backdrop of climate change. The methodology involves thorough review of scientific literature. The study discusses the carbon sequestration achieved as well as reduction in emission with respect to low pesticide use and fossil fuel based farm machinery use in organic farming. The analysis of results concludes that the organic system of farming is the most resilient adaptation strategy against climate change and offer greater potential as a sustainable livelihood mechanism in times of climate transition

Connotation of minor millet biodiversity and indirect payments in tribal homesteads in the backdrop of climate change.

Unscathed agrobiodiversity remaining in-situ today is found on the small-scale farms and homestead gardens of poorer and developing countries (Brookfield, 2001). The indigenous traditional farming of Muthuvan tribe as the case of Finger millet or Ragi (Eleusine coracana), a minor millet cultivated in the Western Ghats in Kerala in the Indian South is one such classic example for in-situ agrobiodiversity management, based on organic farming systems. On such fields, the use of labour intensive, traditional production techniques have persisted throughout the period of controlled state farming and the market based large-scale farming. The homestead gardens close to fringes of ‘South Western Ghats-the hotspot of biodiversity’ also play a crucial role in tribalistic context, by contributing to the rural livelihoods in time periods and locations when markets or state institutions do not. This paper attempts to analyse the opportunity costs of minor millet cultivation incurred by indigenous tribe in scheming compensations for biodiversity conservation. It further discusses possibilities to deliver a tangible and hopeful alternative towards sustainable livelihood in the backdrop of climate change. The methodology involves use of ‘Switching Regression model’ in the estimation and comprehension of opportunity costs, and further looks at its relevance in traditional farming of underutilised minor millets in the tribal homesteads and is equated in terms of indirect payment for biodiversity conservation. The analysis of results concludes the importance of creating incentives for the conservation of agrobiodiversity, especially the on-farm diversity of underutilised crops and supporting poverty alleviation, and preventing welfare losses among vulnerable communities

Connotation of minor millet biodiversity and indirect payments in tribal homesteads in the backdrop of climate change.

Unscathed agrobiodiversity remaining in-situ today is found on the small-scale farms and homestead gardens of poorer and developing countries (Brookfield, 2001). The indigenous traditional farming of Muthuvan tribe as the case of Finger millet or Ragi (Eleusine coracana), a minor millet cultivated in the Western Ghats in Kerala in the Indian South is one such classic example for in-situ agrobiodiversity management, based on organic farming systems. On such fields, the use of labour intensive, traditional production techniques have persisted throughout the period of controlled state farming and the market based large-scale farming. The homestead gardens close to fringes of ‘South Western Ghats-the hotspot of biodiversity’ also play a crucial role in tribalistic context, by contributing to the rural livelihoods in time periods and locations when markets or state institutions do not. This paper attempts to analyse the opportunity costs of minor millet cultivation incurred by indigenous tribe in scheming compensations for biodiversity conservation. It further discusses possibilities to deliver a tangible and hopeful alternative towards sustainable livelihood in the backdrop of climate change. The methodology involves use of ‘Switching Regression model’ in the estimation and comprehension of opportunity costs, and further looks at its relevance in traditional farming of underutilised minor millets in the tribal homesteads and is equated in terms of indirect payment for biodiversity conservation. The analysis of results concludes the importance of creating incentives for the conservation of agrobiodiversity, especially the on-farm diversity of underutilised crops and supporting poverty alleviation, and preventing welfare losses among vulnerable communities

The wanted change against climate change: assessing the role of organic farming as an adaptation strategy

Conventional input intensive agriculture practised over the last century has been a major contributor to climate change, second only to energy sector. The communities engaged in pesticide and synthetic input rich agriculture is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Many emerging economies including India have had the opportunity to develop National Adaptation Plans of Action in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change but implementation of those programmes and strategic links to resourcing actions are often lacking. Adaptation in the agricultural sector can be seen in terms of both short-term and long-term actions. Changing to organic farming systems is the most efficient and long term adaptation strategy. Organic agriculture is believed to be the most sustainable approach against climate change ensuring food security; it employs low external input and high output strategies. This paper attempts to review the potent role of organic agriculture as an adaptation strategy to deliver a tangible and hopeful alternative towards sustainable livelihood in the backdrop of climate change. The methodology involves thorough review of scientific literature. The study discusses the carbon sequestration achieved as well as reduction in emission with respect to low pesticide use and fossil fuel based farm machinery use in organic farming. The analysis of results concludes that the organic system of farming is the most resilient adaptation strategy against climate change and offer greater potential as a sustainable livelihood mechanism in times of climate transition