IMPACT OF CLIMATE-SMART PRACTICES ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY: EVIDENCE FROM PUNJAB

Abstract

This study investigates the critical role of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in enhancing the resilience of food production systems in the face of evolving climate patterns. Utilizing data from 240 farm households during the 2021-2022 period, the analysis distinguishes between 177 adopters and 63 non-adopters of CSA practices for paddy and wheat cultivation. Households were classified into food-secure and food-insecure categories based on the calorie threshold established by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The prevalent climate-smart practices for paddy included Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), Short Duration Varieties (SDVs), Laser Land Leveling (LLL), and Baling (B), while wheat adopters employed Super Seeder (SS), Happy Seeder (HS), and Zero Till Drill (ZT). Notably, adopters exhibited a higher average daily calorie intake of 3006 Kcal compared to 2809 Kcal among non-adopters, alongside a lower Gini coefficient, indicating reduced inequality in calorie consumption among adopters. The ordered probit model identified significant socio-economic factors affecting food security. Specifically, larger family size had a negative impact (p<0.001), whereas education and access to credit positively influenced food security (p<0.02). Income levels also showed a likely positive association with food access. This study highlights the necessity of addressing climate change challenges through targeted policy interventions, technological advancements, and comprehensive extension services. Such measures are essential to promote the effective adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and to bolster food security in the context of climate variability.