Climate risks and adaptation options for oilseed crops in South Asia

As South Asia’s first commodity-specific climate adaptation Atlas, the Atlas of Climate Adaptation in South Asian Agriculture (ACASA) focuses on characterizing climatic risks at a granular level, assessing the likely impacts of climate change, and proposing plausible adaptation options while evaluating their land-climate suitability, gender benefits, yield benefits, economic viability, and overall adaptation benefits. ACASA analyses 21 major commodities, including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fruits and vegetables, livestock, and other non-food crops. The following brief will examine climatic hazards for oilseed crops (both current and future scenarios). Oilseed crops constitute a vital yet under-realised component of South Asia’s agricultural economy, serving as key sources of edible oil, protein-rich meal, and smallholder income. Groundnut, soybean, and mustard are the key annual oilseed crops in the region. The productivity of these crops is relatively low, primarily due to climatic hazards, low inputs, and pest and disease infestations (Shekhawat et al., 2012). Exploring and deploying various adaptation options, strengthening oilseed research, seed systems, and value chains, remains crucial for enhancing self-sufficiency, improving farm incomes, and increasing climate resilience in South Asia (Rao et al., 2015).