Climate smart practices followed by acid lime growers

Introduction

Climate change and Agriculture

The agricultural sector is the sector most Climate change vulnerability. The climate is the primary element influencing agricultural productivity. The environment has changed during the previous many decades due to human activities, increasing the danger of climate-dependent crop production. The most urgent of the climatic changes is the increase in temperature brought about by an increase in the amounts of atmospheric greenhouse gases (IPCC 2007). It has manifested as a recurring pattern of events such as sea level rise, glacier melt, droughts, floods, and storms. The Rainfall distribution and amount have become incredibly unpredictable. The nation's food security is seriously threatened by these advancements, which are already starting to take shape (Pathak et al. 2012). By 2050, the world's population will have increased by a third compared to its current size. The FAO estimates that agricultural production will need to increase by 60 per cent to fulfil projected food and feed demands by 2050. This is assuming that present income and consumption growth trends continue. Therefore, agriculture must change if it is to feed a growing global population and serve as the foundation for economic progress and the eradication of poverty.

Climate change and India

Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy. It plays the most crucial role in the socio-economic area of the farmers. In India, over 60 per cent of total land is under agriculture and nearly 21.71 per cent covered by forests and about 70 per cent of its rural households still depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the country's overall crop yield has decreased in recent years as a result of rising temperatures. It is anticipated that India would encounter difficulties in the near future, such as unwelcome pressure from the expanding population and shifting global agricultural trade conditions. Due to the unpredictability of weather, farmers cultivate resistant kinds of crops and are ready for ongoing changes in farming methods (UNFCCC, 1992). A strategy for changing agricultural systems is required to promote global food security and the fight against poverty since climate change affects agricultural production and food systems. Farmers and policymakers face increased risk and uncertainty as a result of climate change.

Climate change and acid lime

The productivity and growth of plants are affected by climate change especially drought and high temperatures collectively. An increase in temperature and water stress www.extensionjournal.com after pollination inhibits ovule fertilization, which in return reduces tree fruit set, increases June fruit drop, and reduces tree yield (García-Tejero I 2009). Fruit growth phases from button size to mature fruit are more sensitive to heat stress and deficit irrigation. Citrus under water deficit conditions faces reduced fruit growth and ripening, which is associated with a decrease in fruit size, an increase in fruit acidity (Pérez-Pérez JG 2009), and low tree yield. An increase in optimum temperature at fruit ripening causes pre-harvest fruit drop and reduced yield. High temperatures affect citrus plants, increasing transpiration and photosynthesis, destabilising their cell membranes, and incrementing oxidative damage. The optimal temperature range for citrus cultivation is estimated to be 22-34 ºC. Temperatures above this range lead to fruit abscission and smaller fruit size.

Climate Smart Agriculture

In order to effectively support development and guarantee food security in a changing climate, agricultural systems must be transformed and reoriented. The CSA method helps to steer these measures. Climate-smart agriculture has demonstrated its efficacy in delivering tangible benefits to farmers. According to studies, the adoption of climate-smart practices can increase farmers' incomes by up to 30 per cent and enhance crop yields by 20-30 per cent (Musafiri et al., 2021). CSA offers the tools to assist local, national, and international stakeholders in determining agricultural practices that are appropriate for their particular circumstances. The concept of Climate-smart agriculture was first launched by FAO in 2010 in a background paper prepared for the Hague Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change, in the context of national food security and development goals, to tackle three main objectives:

• Sustainably increase in food security by increasing agricultural productivity and incomes • Build resilience and adapt to climate change • Reduce and/or remove greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible. Overall distribution of respondents according to climate smart practices followed by acid lime growers Table revealed that 3 per cent of acid lime growers have medium climate smart practices followed level, 11.68 per cent of acid lime growers have low level of climate smart practices followed and 6.94 per cent of acid lime growers have high level of climate smart practices followed.

Climate smart practices component Index

Conclusion

Acid lime orchard is greatly impacted by climate change, which changes many facets of their development and growth. Among these include altered flowering patterns, decreased fruit set, more pollination errors, poor colour development, and more physiological diseases. Citrus growers may increase orchard resilience, boost productivity, and support sustainable agricultural development in the face of climate change by using these climate-smart strategies.

References

1. Acevedo M, Pixley K, Zinyengere N, et al. A scoping review of adoption of climate-resilient crops by smallwww.extensionjournal.com scale producers in low-and middle-income countries. Nature Plants. 2020;6:1231-1241. doi:10.1038/s41477020-00783-z.
2. Adegnandjou MF, Barjolle D. Farmer's Adaptation to Climate change and Implications in the Zou Department of South Benin. Journal of Environments. 2018;5.
3. Hariharan VK, Mittal S, Rai M, et al. Does climateSmart Village approach influence gender equality in farming households? A case of two contrasting ecologies in India. Clim. Chang. 2020;158:77-90. doi:10.1007/s10584-018-2321-0.
4. Islam S, Kabir MH, Ali S, Sultana S, Mahasin M. Farmer's Knowledge on Climate Change Effects in Agriculture. Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 2019;386-394.
5. Joshi S. Farmers' Perception about Climate Change and Strategies to Cope-up with Climate Change in Uttar Pradesh. Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology; 2015.
6. Babu K. Impact of National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture project in Ananthapuram district of Andhra Pradesh. Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University; 2019.
7. Khanal U, Wilson C, Hoang VN, Lee BL. Farmers' adaptation to climate change, its determinants and impacts on rice yield in Nepal. Ecological Economics. 2018;144(2018):139-147.
8. Mi Q, Li X, Li X, Yu G, Gao J. Cotton farmers' adaptation to arid climates: Waiting times to adopt water-saving technology. Agricultural Water Management. 2021;244:0378-3774.
9. Musafiri CM, Kiboi M, Macharia J, et al. Adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices among smallholder farmers in Western Kenya: do socioeconomic, institutional, and biophysical factors matter? Heliyon. 2021;8:e08677. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08677.
10. Mutandwa D, Mlambo BH, Manzvera J. Exploring the link between climate change perceptions and adaptation strategies among smallholder farmers in Chimanimani of Zimbabwe. International Journal of Social Economics. 2019.
11. Raza A, Razzaq A, Mehmood SS, et al. Impact of Climate Change on Crops Adaptation and Strategies to Tackle Its Outcome: A Review. Plants Journal. 2019;8(2):34.
12. Martínez VR, Rubio F, Pérez AC, et al. Citrus farmers' perception of the effect of climate change in Campeche. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc. 2021;11(4). doi:10.29312/remexca.v11i4.1898.
13. Joseph S, Antwi MA, Chagwiza C, Chagwiza C. Climate change adaptation strategies and production efficiency: The case of citrus farmers. 2021;13(1):1093.
14. Saryam M, Jirli B. Socio economic status of orange farmers in Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh. International Journal of Agricultural Science and Research. 2020;10:67-78.
15. Sawale PV, Patil MB, Tummod AR, Pavhane SB. Effect of nutrients on growth and physical attributes of acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) cv. Sai Sharbati. Journal of Pharmaceutical Innovation. 2021;10(11):2063-2066.
16. Serkendiz H, Tatli H. Assessment of multidimensional drought vulnerability using exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity components. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 2023;195(10):1154.