Syllabus
GS Paper 3 – Environmental conservation; Environmental pollution and degradation; Environmental Impact Assessment.
Applications where to apply?
When asked about
– Carbon trading
– Sustainable Agriculture
– Carbon sequestration
Context
Carbon farming emerges as a viable solution that not only mitigates climate change but also enhances resilience in the agricultural sector.
Source
The Hindu| Editorial dated 7th May 2024
What is carbon farming?
In recent years, the urgency of addressing climate change has become increasingly apparent, with rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation threatening ecosystems and livelihoods worldwide. Agriculture, as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, also faces risks from climate variability and resource depletion.
Carbon Farming
Carbon farming is a system of agricultural management that helps the land accumulate and store more greenhouse gases instead of releasing those gases into the atmosphere.
Examples of carbon farming practices
Forest Management:
- Maintaining healthy forests helps absorb and retain CO2 emissions from other sources.
- Carbon offsets can be generated by activities such as avoiding deforestation, permanent land conservation, reforestation, and improved forest management.
Grasslands Conservation:
- Preserving native plant life in grasslands through permanent land conservation and preventing conversion of grasslands for commercial development or intensive agriculture.
Mixed Farming:
- A climate-friendly approach involving raising livestock and crops together.
- Rotating cows among pastures allows grasses to recover from grazing, and their manure and grazing impacts regenerate carbon in soils.
Cover Crops:
- These crops are planted to cover the soil rather than for harvest.
- They enhance carbon return to the soil and sustain soil microbes crucial for carbon storage.
Reduction of Soil Tillage:
- Tillage is commonly used to loosen soil and remove weeds, but it increases carbon mineralization, leading to CO2 emissions from the soil.
- Reducing soil disturbance helps protect soil organic matter and mitigate carbon loss.
Wetland Restoration:
- Wetland soil serves as an important natural carbon sink, conserving about 14.5% of the world’s soil carbon.
- Restoring wetlands contributes to carbon sequestration and conservation efforts.
Benefits of Carbon Farming
- Soil Health Improvement: Enhances organic content and minimizes soil degradation.
- Climate Change Mitigation: Reduces greenhouse gas emissions and increases carbon storage in agricultural landscapes.
- Adaptation to Climate Variability: Helps address challenges related to soil degradation, water scarcity, and climate variability.
- Opportunities in India:
- Grassroots Initiatives: Pioneering agrarian research and grassroots initiatives in India showcase the viability of organic farming for carbon sequestration.
- For example, studies indicate that organic farming practices can sequester around 1.5 to 3 tons of carbon per hectare annually.
- Economic Benefits: Agro-ecological practices in India could generate significant economic value and provide climate services for farmers.
- For instance, adopting sustainable agricultural practices could potentially generate up to $63 billion in value from approximately 170 million hectares of arable land in India.
- Additionally, farmers could receive an annual payment of around ₹5,000-6,000 per acre for providing climate services through sustainable agricultural practices.
- Grassroots Initiatives: Pioneering agrarian research and grassroots initiatives in India showcase the viability of organic farming for carbon sequestration.
Challenges to Carbon Farming
- Geographical Factors: Effectiveness varies based on factors like soil type, water availability, and biodiversity.
- Non-Suitability in Coastal Regions: Coastal areas in India face challenges such as salinization and limited access to resources, making them less suitable for adoption of carbon farming practices.
- Resource Constraints: Limited water availability and financial resources can hinder the adoption of carbon farming practices, especially for small-scale farmers.
- Policy Support: Adequate policy support and community engagement are essential for the widespread adoption of carbon farming.
- Limited Awareness: Lack of awareness about carbon farming practices among farmers.
Global Carbon Farming Initiatives
- Carbon Trading Markets: Countries like the United States, Australia, and Canada have established carbon trading markets to incentivize carbon mitigation activities in agriculture.
- The Chicago Climate Exchange is one such initiative that encourages farmers to adopt practices like no-till farming and reforestation to reduce carbon emissions.
- International Projects: Initiatives such as Kenya’s Agricultural Carbon Project, with support from the World Bank, highlight the potential of carbon farming to address climate mitigation and adaptation challenges, as well as food security issues, particularly in economically developing countries.
- 4 per 1000 Initiative:Launched during the COP21 climate talks in Paris, the “4 per 1000” initiative emphasizes the crucial role of soil carbon sequestration in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
- It aims to increase global soil carbon stocks by 0.4% per year through sustainable land management practices, including carbon farming.
Conclusion
Promoting carbon farming in India can mitigate climate change, improve soil health, enhance biodiversity, and create economic opportunities for farmers. Addressing challenges and fostering awareness and policy support are essential for its successful implementation.
Related Topics
Carbon Sequestration
Carbon sequestration refers to the long-term storage of carbon in various natural reservoirs, including plants, soils, geological formations, and the ocean. It involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and storing it to mitigate climate change.
Types of Carbon Sequestration
- Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration:
- Terrestrial carbon sequestration involves the absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere by trees and plants during photosynthesis. This captured carbon is then stored in vegetation (such as tree trunks, branches, foliage, and roots) and soil.
- Geologic Carbon Sequestration:
- Geologic carbon sequestration involves storing CO2 underground in geological formations such as oil reservoirs, gas reservoirs, unmineable coal seams, saline formations, and shale formations with high organic content.
- Ocean Carbon Sequestration:
- Ocean carbon sequestration involves the absorption, release, and storage of large amounts of CO2 by the oceans. This can be achieved through two main methods:
- Enhancing Ocean Productivity: Iron fertilization is a method where iron is dumped into the ocean to stimulate the growth of phytoplankton. These microorganisms absorb CO2 during photosynthesis, thus sequestering carbon.
- Injecting CO2 into the Deep Ocean: CO2 can be injected into the deep ocean to store it in the ocean’s depths, away from the atmosphere.
- Ocean carbon sequestration involves the absorption, release, and storage of large amounts of CO2 by the oceans. This can be achieved through two main methods:
References
Related PYQ
Should the pursuit of carbon credit and clean development mechanism set up under UNFCCC be maintained even through there has been a massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic growth. [ UPSC Civil Services Exam – Mains 2014]
Practice Question
Discuss the concept of carbon farming and its potential to address climate change and improve agricultural sustainability in India. [150 words]