INTRO

• Weather Description
  • Describes the state of the lower atmosphere in a specific place.
  • Includes variables like temperature, precipitation (annual rainfall), wind direction, wind speed, humidity, cloudiness, and atmospheric pressure.
  • Focuses on short-term variations, typically ranging from minutes to days.
• Climate Definition
  • Statistical weather information indicating weather variation at a place over a specific time interval.
  • Describes atmospheric changes over extended periods, often years to decades.

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Unprecedented climate changes are occurring, affecting all life on Earth.
• The world’s population is expected to surpass 8 billion soon.
• Adverse climatic changes will particularly impact crop productivity, posing challenges to food security for everyone
• COP-28 in Dubai did not reach a consensus on reducing fossil fuel production.
• This lack of agreement hampers global efforts to mitigate climate change and its impacts.
• 2023 marked the hottest year in human memory.
• Aberrant climate changes like floods, heat waves, and ice melt are becoming more frequent.
• Specific mention of the Himalayan glacier melt highlights the severity of these changes.
• Climate changes not only threaten human life but also have significant repercussions on crop productivity.
• These changes necessitate urgent action and adaptation strategies to safeguard food security

IMPACTS

• Internal Factors in Crop Growth
  • Genetic or hereditary factors influence crop growth.
  • High-yielding capacity, resistance to stresses like drought, heat, and salinity, and tolerance to biotic stresses (e.g., pathogens, insects) are crucial internal factors.
  • Soil conditions, including factors like soil moisture, also play a role in crop growth.
• Interrelation of Soil, Climate, and Water
  • Soil, climate, and water (moisture) are interconnected factors influencing crop production.
  • Soil alone cannot be discussed without considering its moisture content, as they affect each other’s properties and interactions.
• Clay Particle and Water Interaction
  • The electric force on clay particles attracts water molecules, creating a water chain in soil.
  • These interactions are influenced by climatic changes, indicating the direct impact of climate on soil moisture and consequently on crop growth.
• Food Security Components
  • Food security comprises availability, accessibility, and utilization of food.
  • Understanding the interlinking of these components is crucial in comprehending how climate influences crop production and, consequently, food security

CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE (CSA)

• Definition and Scope of Climate Resilient Agriculture
  • Refers to practices integrating adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable agricultural methods to combat climate change impacts.
  • Focuses on judicious natural resource management through technological advancements.
  • Aims to sustain agricultural production at local and global levels in a sustainable manner.
• Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)
  • An innovative approach enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability while addressing climate change.
  • Emphasizes the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
  • Involves strategies to increase crop yields, adapt agricultural practices to climate change, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
• Principles of Climate-Smart Agriculture
  • Strategies to boost crop yields under variable weather conditions.
  • Adaptation strategies making agricultural practices resilient to climate change.
  • Mitigation strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and manage climate risks.
• Nutrient Buffer Power Concept
  • Scientific soil management is crucial in climate-smart agriculture.
  • The Nutrient Buffer Power Concept optimizes nutrient supply to enhance crop productivity economically and precisely.
• Climate-Smart Village (CSV) Concept
  • Developed by Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research Programme on Climate change, Agriculture and Food security (CCAFS) for agricultural research and development in climate change contexts.
  • Aims to provide services like input supply, technology transfer, and extension services to farmers.
• Extension Approach to Climate-Smart Agriculture
  • Provides farmers with inputs and technology through extension methods.
  • Includes services such as soil testing, micro-irrigation projects, and rain harvesting structures.
• Crop Wild Relatives (CWRs)
  • Important genetic resources for developing climate-resilient crop varieties.
  • Transferring genes from CWRs to cultivated varieties helps crops withstand climate stresses.