Can India Embrace Brazil’s Sustainable Agriculture Model?
- Muhammad Ahmad
- Nov 28, 2024
- 2 min read
Exploring lessons from Brazil’s success in mitigating emissions while boosting productivity
Brazil: A global leader in sustainable agriculture practices
Brazil's low-carbon agriculture programs effectively balance productivity with environmental conservation.
Innovations like no-till farming and integrated systems reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
India can adapt Brazil’s practices to enhance sustainability in its agricultural sector.
Brazil, a BRICS economy and the sixth-largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter globally, faces significant emissions from agriculture and land-use changes. In response, Brazil has prioritized low-carbon agriculture through policies like the Low-Carbon Agriculture (ABC) Plan, which incorporates innovative techniques such as integrated crop-livestock-forestry systems and no-till farming. These initiatives aim to mitigate emissions while boosting productivity and adapting to climate change.
This commitment is critical as Brazil aims to reduce GHG emissions by 48% by 2025 and 53% by 2030 (compared to 2005 levels). The ABC Plan’s success stems from its comprehensive approach, which includes government financing, research, and capacity-building for farmers.
Technical Focus
Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forestry (ICLF): Utilizes land more efficiently, enhancing biodiversity and productivity.
No-Till Farming: Reduces soil disturbance, enhancing organic matter and sequestering carbon.
Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF): Replaces synthetic fertilizers with natural nitrogen sources.
Animal Waste Management Converts waste into biogas and organic fertilizers.
Brazil's ABC+ Plan builds on these methods, targeting the recovery of 30 million hectares of degraded pastures and the adoption of bio inputs by 2030.
India, with its vast agricultural sector, can draw inspiration from Brazil’s model. While Brazil leverages innovative practices to achieve environmental goals, India grapples with soil degradation, water scarcity, and fragmented land holdings. Adapting technologies like no-till farming and ICLF can significantly enhance India's agricultural sustainability. As experts note, “The integration of these practices will not only reduce emissions but also ensure long-term productivity.”
Brazil’s emphasis on farmer training and financial incentives could also guide India’s efforts to scale sustainable practices. For instance, adopting Brazil’s approach to subsidized credit for low-carbon technologies could accelerate India’s transition to sustainable agriculture.
Brazil’s success demonstrates how aligning policy, innovation, and stakeholder engagement can transform agriculture into a tool for climate resilience. India has the potential to replicate and tailor these strategies to its context, paving the way for a greener agricultural future.