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Cornell University

Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition

Promoting Agricultural Diversification and Climate Resiliency in India

This special policy brief estimates the potential reduction in methane gas emissions from the diversification of agriculture in Chhattisgarh, India. The analysis provides policymakers with information regarding pathways for combatting climate change by reducing agricultural emissions, making Chhattisgarh’s agricultural system more resilient to the effects of climate change, and making nutritious, diverse diets more accessible.

Download the policy brief

Reducing emissions through diversification

TCI research shows that reducing rice cultivation in Chhattisgarh in favor of millets, pulses, and oilseeds has the potential to shift districts from high-emitting sources of methane emissions into diversified, climate-smart enclaves with significantly reduced GHG footprints. In particular, the central western and central-eastern rice-growing districts have immense potential to diversify and reduce emissions.

If Chhattisgarh reduces its area under rice production by 25% by 2030, its emissions from rice cultivation would drop from 340.13 gigagrams to 255.10 gigagrams. India’s rice-related emissions would decrease by nearly 3%.

Transformation of Agricultural Systems for Climate Resilience

This policy brief was produced as part of a joint TCI–PRADAN project, Transformation of Agricultural Systems for Climate Resilience. The project aims to identify credible pathways to diversify agriculture in Chhattisgarh away from rice in order to improve climate resiliency, increase farm income, and encourage nutritious dietary practices.