Reimagining Indian agriculture for a low-carbon future
India stands at a critical juncture in its agricultural transformation. With over 60% of the population dependent on agrifood systems for their livelihoods and the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector accounting for 14% of the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the challenge is no longer a choice between agricultural and economic growth and sustainability, but the need to find a pathway that ensures agricultural growth and livelihoods while increasing the sustainability of the country’s food production systems.
- India
- Climate Change Mitigation
India stands at a critical juncture in its agricultural transformation. With over 60% of the population dependent on agrifood systems for their livelihoods and the Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector accounting for 14% of the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the challenge is no longer a choice between agricultural and economic growth and sustainability, but the need to find a pathway that ensures agricultural growth and livelihoods while increasing the sustainability of the country’s food production systems.
Agriculture plays a major role in this transition to a low-carbon development pathway, particularly in India. India reported GHG emissions from the AFOLU sector of 334 million metric tons (MT) CO2 equivalent in 2020. Croplands and forests offer a high potential as carbon sinks, sequestering about 22% of India’s total CO2 emissions in 2020 and offering an additional carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion MT CO2 equivalent through improvements of degraded lands and expansion of forests and tree cover by 2030.