Introduction: Agriculture at the Crossroads

Agriculture is India’s lifeline, feeding over a billion people and employing more than 40% of our workforce. [1] But climate change, falling water tables, and soil degradation are pushing it to the edge. The Green Revolution fed a nation, but its long-term costs are now catching up.

The question we now face is not whether agriculture should be sustainable, but how quickly we can make that transition. Here’s how India can cultivate a climate-smart, resource-efficient future for farming.

Why Sustainability in Agriculture is Urgent

India’s agriculture is increasingly affected by extreme weather, erratic monsoons, unseasonal rains, droughts, and floods, leading to unstable yields [2]. Water availability is falling in key food-producing regions such as Punjab and Haryana due to over-extraction of groundwater [3]. Soil degradation, declining organic carbon, and biodiversity loss further weaken the ecosystem on which farming depends [1].
Emissions from rice fields, fertiliser use, and crop burning add to environmental damage. Rice cultivation produces methane; synthetic fertilisers release nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas [2]. Burning crop residues contributes to regional air pollution. Additionally, India’s food system is exposed to risks like post-harvest losses, market volatility, and input cost spikes, which hurt small farmers the most [2][4].

Current Efforts and Progress in India

Several government schemes promote sustainable farming. The Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) supports organic clusters and farmer groups [1]. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) focuses on integrated farming, rain-fed agriculture, soil health, and efficient water use [5]. The PM-KUSUM scheme helps farmers adopt solar-powered irrigation systems, reducing diesel dependence. The Soil Health Card initiative enables farmers to apply inputs more precisely based on nutrient availability [4].

At the state level, Andhra Pradesh has piloted natural farming with low input costs and improved soil health outcomes [1]. In Maharashtra, climate-resilient farming practices are being mainstreamed into dryland regions [2].

Meanwhile, agri-tech start-ups are helping farmers adopt drip irrigation, precision sowing, and sensor-based crop monitoring—making sustainable practices easier to manage and
scale [3].

Challenges in Scaling Sustainable Practices

Adoption of sustainable agriculture remains low, especially among small and marginal farmers. Risk aversion, lack of awareness, and initial transition costs make it harder for them to shift from conventional farming [2][6].
Extension systems are weak in reaching farmers with tailored knowledge and support. Most subsidies still go to chemical fertilizers and free electricity, which encourage groundwater overuse and excessive input application [1].
There is little price support or market access for sustainable produce. Organic or naturally grown food often struggles to reach consumers or receive a premium. Certification processes are expensive and poorly understood. Policies remain fragmented, with overlapping schemes from different ministries and limited coordination [2][6].

Envisioning the Future: What Must Change

India’s agricultural system needs a reset. Five key shifts can help build a more
sustainable future:

  1. Climate-Smart Agriculture
    Use of climate-resilient crop varieties, localized weather forecasts, and crop insurance can reduce climate risks and support farmer income stability [2].
  2. Agroecological Approaches
    Natural farming, intercropping, and regenerative practices like cover cropping and minimal tillage can improve soil health and reduce chemical use. Organic methods have shown promising results in crop yields and long-term soil fertility across India [1].
  3. Water and Soil Conservation
    Expanding micro-irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and restoring organic matter through composting and mulching are critical. Managing inputs based on soil test data can reduce fertilizer waste and improve productivity [5].
  4. Digital and Technological Innovation
    AI, IoT, and satellite imagery can guide planting, irrigation, and pest control more efficiently. Traceability tools like blockchain can strengthen consumer trust in sustainable food systems [3].
  5. Market and Financial Reforms
    Public funds must shift from blanket subsidies to outcome-based support tied to sustainable practices. Farmers should be rewarded for services like carbon sequestration and water conservation. Access to green credit, carbon markets, and payment for ecosystem services (PES) should be widened [2][6].

The Role of Policy and Institutions

Policy coherence is essential. Ministries like Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Development must align their schemes under a unified sustainability framework [2][5]. Research institutions such as ICAR and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) need to update their training and demonstration models to focus on agroecology and climate-resilient methods [2].
Public-private partnerships can help build infrastructure like decentralized storage, cold chains, and processing for sustainable produce. Expanding Minimum Support Price (MSP) to include crops like millets, pulses, and oilseeds, which use fewer resources, will send the right market signals [4].

Conclusion: Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability

India’s future in agriculture must balance productivity, ecological limits, and rural livelihoods. Climate-smart and sustainable farming is not an ideal, it is a necessity. The tools and models already exist. What’s needed is clear policy direction, stronger institutions, and engagement across stakeholders, from farmers to consumers.

India’s agriculture can thrive without exhausting its soil and water. It can become a global model for low-input, high-resilience farming with the right push.

Carbon Mandal supports this transition by offering expertise in GHG accounting, decarbonization strategies, and sustainable supply chain solutions. If you’re a policymaker, business, or farming community looking to reduce your carbon footprint, we can help you
take the next step.

List of references

[1] CSE, State of Organic and Natural Farming in India
(2022)https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GO4PKdbl0tnkfVDkZuHcLyEFwAvBA-4i/view?usp=sharing
[2] CEEW, Sustainable Agriculture in India (2023)Sustainable Agriculture & Eco-Friendly Farming Practices in India
[3] IBEF, Agriculture 4.0: Future of Indian Agriculture www.ibef.org/blogs/agriculture-4-0-future-of-indian-agriculture
[4] PIB, PM-KUSUM and Soil Health Card Initiatives https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2024/aug/doc202482738070
1.pdf
[5] National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, https://nmsa.dac.gov.in/
[6] Carbon Mandal, https://carbonmandal.com/services/
[7] Down to Earth, Regenerative Agriculture and Water Saving https://www.downtoearth.org.in/agriculture/restore-by-use-regenerative-agriculture-can-helpsave-water-here-is-how-86065
[8] FarmersStop, Terrace and Urban Farming in Indian Communities