Climate change adaptation: Challenges for agricultural sustainability

Climate change poses a substantial threat to agricultural sustainability globally. Agriculture is a vital component of the gross domestic production of developing countries. The multifaceted impacts of climate change on agriculture, highlighting how extreme weather events such as water stress, heatwaves, erratic rainfall, storms, floods, and emerging pest infestations are disrupting agricultural productivity. The socioeconomic status of farmers is particularly vulnerable to climatic extremes with future projections indicating significant increment in ambient air temperatures and unpredictable, intense rainfall patterns. Agriculture has historically relied on the extensive use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides, combined with advancements in irrigation and biotechnological approaches to boost productivity. It encompasses a range of practices designed to enhance the resilience of agricultural systems, improve productivity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By adopting climate-smart practices, farmers can better adapt to changing climatic conditions, thereby ensuring more sustainable and secure food production. Furthermore, it identifies key areas for future research, focusing on the development of innovative adaptation and mitigation strategies. These strategies are essential for minimizing the detrimental impacts of climate change on agriculture and for promoting the long-term sustainability of food systems. This article underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and the integration of advanced technologies to address the challenges posed by climate change. By fostering a deeper understanding of these issues to inform policymakers, researchers, and practitioners about effective strategies to safeguard agricultural productivity and food security in the face of changing climate. The stress on agriculture to provide food and nutritional safety worldwide is tremendous, and climate change is worsening gradually. The climate change may affect agricultural productivity in the coming years, even though the scenario for the future climate and its possible effects remain unfeasible. Temperature, precipitation, and greenhouse gas emissions from human activity significantly down-regulate plant metabolic activities, soil fertility, pest infestation, and plant physiological responses. The secret of physiological and molecular signalling may also be resolved to improve crop adaptation during the era of climate change. It is predicted that the strategies for adaptation and mitigation may be fruitful to increase farmers' profitability with sustainability of agriculture production in times to come.