Decarbonizing Agriculture Sector

Decarbonisation is the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions through the use of low carbon power sources, achieving a lower output of greenhouse gasses.

Challenges in Decarbonizing Agriculture

• Poor and Marginal Farmers
• Competing Choices
• Size of Livestock
• Uncertain Techniques
• Awareness and Incentives

Methods for Decarbonization of the Agriculture Sector

• Agriculture methods and practices like Regenerative farming, Precision farming, right amount of nitrogen;
• Carbon Farming;
• Decarbonizing Livestock Farming;
• Alternate Cropping reduces biogenic methane emissions;
• Micro-irrigation with automation and adoption of low water-intensive species;
• Agro-forestry; Bio-energy from Farm Waste like Manure-based community biogas plants; Checking Food Wastage;
• Effective land management; and Gene editing.

Steps have been taken by the Government for Decarbonization of the Agriculture Sector

• The Government has launched multiple programmes like the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), and National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) which are related to low carbon transition.
• The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme of the Government aims to improve irrigation access and raise farmers’ income through solar-powered irrigation.
• The Soil Health Card Scheme aims to rationalize the use of fertilizers.
• In terms of Land Use, the key elements for decarbonization are halting deforestation, rejuvenating degraded forests, and accelerating afforestation. The Government has launched National Mission for Green India
• The National Policy for Biofuels/ SATAT scheme set a medium-term target of 15 million tonnes of bio-CNG.