Cost-effective opportunities for climate change mitigation in Indian agriculture

Tek B Sapkota; Sylvia H Vetter; M L Jat; Smita Sirohi; Paresh B Shirsath; Rajbir Singh; Hanuman S Jat; Pete Smith; Jon Hillier; Clare M Stirling

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.225

Cost-effective opportunities for climate change mitigation in Indian agriculture

Sci Total Environ. 2019 Mar 10:655:1342-1354. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.225. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Authors

Tek B Sapkota¹, Sylvia H Vetter², M L Jat³, Smita Sirohi⁴, Paresh B Shirsath⁵, Rajbir Singh⁶, Hanuman S Jat⁷, Pete Smith², Jon Hillier⁸, Clare M Stirling⁹

Affiliations

¹ International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), NASC complex, New Delhi 110012, India. Electronic address: t.sapkota@cgiar.org.
² Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, UK.
³ International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), NASC complex, New Delhi 110012, India.
⁴ Department of Dairy Economics, Statistics and Management, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana 132001, India.
⁵ CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA)/CIMMYT, NASC Complex, New Delhi 110012, India.
⁶ ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI), Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India.
⁷ International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), CSSRI, Karnal, India.
⁸ Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security, The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
⁹ International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) House, United Nations Avenue, Gigiri P.O. Box 1041-00621, Nairobi, Kenya.

PMID: 30577126
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.225

Abstract

Long-term changes in average temperatures, precipitation, and climate variability threaten agricultural production, food security, and the livelihoods of farming communities globally. Whilst adaptation to climate change is necessary to ensure food security and protect livelihoods of poor farmers, mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can lessen the extent of climate change and future needs for adaptation. Many agricultural practices can potentially mitigate GHG emissions without compromising food production. India is the third largest GHG emitter in the world where agriculture is responsible for 18% of total national emissions. India has identified agriculture as one of the priority sectors for GHG emission reduction in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Identification of emission hotspots and cost-effective mitigation options in agriculture can inform the prioritisation of efforts to reduce emissions without compromising food and nutrition security. We adopted a bottom-up approach to analyse GHG emissions using large datasets of India's 'cost of cultivation survey' and the '19th livestock census' together with soil, climate and management data for each location. Mitigation measures and associated costs and benefits of adoption, derived from a variety of sources including the literature, stakeholder meetings and expert opinion, were presented in the form of Marginal Abatement Cost Curves (MACC). We estimated that by 2030, business-as-usual GHG emissions from the agricultural sector in India would be 515 Megatonne CO₂ equivalent (MtCO₂e) per year with a technical mitigation potential of 85.5 MtCO₂e per year through adoption of various mitigation practices. About 80% of the technical mitigation potential could be achieved by adopting only cost-saving measures. Three mitigation options, i.e. efficient use of fertilizer, zero-tillage and rice-water management, could deliver more than 50% of the total technical abatement potential.

Keywords: Agriculture; Climate change; Greenhouse gas; India; Marginal Abatement Cost Curve; Mitigation.