Climate smart Agriculture in Diverse Production Environments Economic and Energy Use Efficiency

Abstract

newlineClimate change and food security are among the most pressing global challenges in the present century. Food and Agricultural Organization introduced Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in 2010 to offer innovative, locally adapted strategies that help farmers manage the impacts of a changing climate, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve food security. CSA implementation faces significant barriers at the farm level compounded by existing research gaps. This study explores farmers awareness and adoption of CSA, examines the determinants of adoption and analyses the monetary returns; economic and energy use efficiencies of CSA adopters over non-adopters. The research aims to provide clear insights for policymakers about the technology adoption gap among farmers to promote sustainable agriculture. newlineThe study was conducted in Tamil Nadu, focusing on the districts of Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Karur, selected through purposive sampling based on key climate indicators. A multi-stage sampling approach yielded a total sample of 300 respondents. Farms were post-stratified by crops occupying major areas to quantify the monetary impacts, economic and energy use efficiency and overall impact of CSA on farm profitability, resulting in 45 CSA adopters and 71 non-adopters for paddy and 78 CSA adopters and 106 non-adopters for coconut farming. Primary data were collected using pre-tested interview schedules and analysed using binary logistic regression, cost-benefit analysis, partial budgeting approach, data envelopment analysis, fractional logit regression and endogenous switching regression. Energy use newlineefficiency was assessed using an equivalent energy conversion approach and constraints were prioritized using the response priority index. newlineThe trend analysis was used to assess the pattern of change in climate variables, land use and cropping patterns.