Advancing Sustainable Agriculture for Land Restoration and Climate

PROF. DINESH CHANDRA RAI Vice Chancellor, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University

As we observe World Environment Day 2025, the urgent need to address land degradation, climate change, and food insecurity demands unified action. With nearly 40% of global land degraded and India grappling with desertification, erratic monsoons, and soil erosion, sustainable agriculture stands as a cornerstone for restoring ecosystems, fostering climate resilience, and securing livelihoods. Drawing on over three decades of research in food technology and sustainable agriculture, I propose that integrating climate-resilient crops, innovative technologies, and robust central government initiatives can chart a course for a greener, more sustainable India. This vision, grounded in national priorities, offers a blueprint for environmental stewardship across the nation.

The Urgency of Sustainable Agriculture

Agriculture, which employs over half of India’s workforce and underpins the economy, is both a contributor to and a victim of environmental degradation. Intensive farming, excessive use of chemical fertilizers, and monoculture practices have depleted soil fertility, diminished biodiversity, and strained water resources. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 15 (Life on Land), emphasize halting land degradation and promoting sustainable land use. Sustainable agriculture—balancing productivity with ecological integrity—is vital to achieving these goals while addressing climate vulnerabilities across India’s diverse agro-climatic zones.

Climate-resilient crops such as millets, pulses, and oilseeds are pivotal to this transition. Millets, for example, thrive in low-water conditions, are nutrient-dense, and require minimal inputs, making them ideal for water-scarce regions. My research in food technology demonstrates how innovations, such as millet-based functional foods, can enhance nutritional value and market appeal, incentivizing farmers to adopt sustainable crops. These efforts align with India’s Poshan Mission, which promotes nutrition security while reducing agriculture’s environmental footprint.

Restoring Land through Sustainable Practices

Revitalizing soil health is the foundation of land restoration. Practices like crop rotation, intercropping, and organic farming enhance soil fertility and curb erosion. For instance, intercropping pulses with cereals boosts soil nitrogen levels, while agroforestry sequesters carbon and stabilizes ecosystems. Technologies such as precision farming and biofertilizers optimize resource use, minimizing environmental impact.

Central government initiatives provide essential support. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) promotes efficient irrigation through drip and sprinkler systems, conserving water in drought-prone regions. The Soil Health Card Scheme equips farmers with data to optimize fertilizer use, reducing chemical runoff and enhancing soil health. The Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) incentivizes organic farming, fostering biodiversity and soil vitality. Together, these schemes advance land restoration, ensuring sustainable agriculture benefits farmers nationwide.

Empowering Communities and Institutions

Empowering smallholder farmers and women, who form the backbone of Indian agriculture, is crucial for sustainable progress. Many lack access to modern tools, credit, and markets. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) addresses these challenges by promoting climate-resilient practices like agroforestry and organic farming. Through farmer-producer organizations (FPOs), NMSA facilitates training and market linkages, enabling farmers to adopt sustainable methods while ensuring economic viability. PKVY further supports this shift by providing financial assistance for organic certification and training.

Tackling Broader Environmental Challenges

Sustainable agriculture extends to water management, waste reduction, and climate adaptation. PMKSY’s focus on micro-irrigation ensures efficient water use in water-stressed areas. Agricultural waste, such as crop residues, can be transformed into biofuels or compost, fostering a circular economy. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) addresses stubble burning, a major source of pollution, by promoting alternative residue management. These efforts align with the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which positions sustainable agriculture as a key strategy for climate adaptation.

Climate resilience is critical in a nation where rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall threaten food security. The Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) initiative under NMSA promotes practices like intercropping and conservation tillage to boost yields and reduce emissions. By adopting these methods, farmers can mitigate climate variability, ensuring long-term productivity and environmental health.

A Call to Action for a Sustainable Future

World Environment Day 2025 underscores that environmental sustainability is a collective responsibility. Central initiatives like PMKSY, Soil Health Card, NMSA, PKVY, and NAPCC provide a robust framework, but their success hinges on unified action. As Vice Chancellor of BRABU, I call on students, researchers, policymakers, and farmers to join this mission. Universities must drive interdisciplinary research and community engagement, while governments should expand incentives for eco-friendly practices through subsidies and infrastructure. Farmers, supported by FPOs and national schemes, must be empowered to adopt sustainable methods without compromising livelihoods.

India’s embrace of climate-resilient crops and practices, backed by central initiatives, offers a global model for sustainable agriculture. By scaling these efforts, we can restore degraded lands, build climate resilience, and secure a sustainable future. Let us commit to this vision, not only on World Environment Day but every day, for a nation where humanity and nature thrive in harmony.

Prof. Dinesh Chandra Rai, a distinguished food technologist and Vice Chancellor of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, specializes in sustainable agriculture, dairy technology, food processing, and environmental initiatives.