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Strengthening Agricultural Resilience: The Vital Role of Extension Services in

Addressing Climate Change Vulnerability

Article · March 2024

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Rishabh Gaur Biswajit Mallick

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 Strengthening Agricultural Resilience: The Vital Role of
Extension Services in Addressing Climate Change
Vulnerability
Article ID: 48541
Rishabh S. Gaur1, Biswajit Mallick2
1Ph.D. Research Scholar, Dairy Extension Division, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal,

Haryana (132001).
2Ph.D. Research Scholar, Ph.D. Scholar, Department of Extension Education, OUA&T, Bhubaneswar,

Odisha, India.

Abstract
Climate change poses threats to food security, ecosystems, and livelihoods, affecting billions globally. This
article underlines the critical importance of agricultural extension services in mitigating the growing
effects of climate change on global agriculture. With billions of people facing risks to their food security,
ecosystems, and livelihoods, deliberate interventions are required to address vulnerability, which is
determined by exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Emphasis of crucial sectors vulnerable to
climate change and advocates for adaptive methods, conservation, and fair growth. Agricultural extension
services are critical for promoting climate-resilient practices, making weather-responsive decisions, and
encouraging community participation in the development of sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.

Introduction
Climate change is a major concern to the worldwide agricultural industry, affecting food security,
livelihoods, and ecosystems. Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature and weather
patterns. These movements may be natural, but since the 1800s, human actions have been the primary
cause of climate change, owing to the use of fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, and gas) in conjunction with
natural phenomena. Climate change is having a negative influence on practically all ecosystem elements,
which is harmful to the existence of lifeforms on the planet. According to IPCC AR 6, 3.5 billion people (45%
of the world's population) live in areas vulnerable to climate change.

What Exactly is Climate Change Vulnerability?

Vulnerability refers to the degree to which a system or society is vulnerable to climate change or unable to
cope with its negative impacts. Vulnerability is determined by the exposure, sensitivity, and adaptability
of various systems and groups.
V = f (E, S, AC) (As per IPCC AR 5)
Exposure: The extent to which a system or group is vulnerable to climate-related risks such as extreme
weather events, sea level rise, and changes in temperature and precipitation patterns.
Sensitivity: It refers to how much a system or group is influenced by climate-related dangers. Sensitivity
varies between systems and communities, and certain groups, such as the marginalized or economically
underprivileged, are especially vulnerable to climate-related effects.
Adaptive capacity: refers to a system's or group's ability to adapt or adjust to the effects of climate change
through mitigation, adaptation, and coping techniques in response to the repercussions. A variety of factors
impact adaptive capability, including social, economic, and institutional aspects, as well as resource
availability, technology, and knowledge.
Vulnerability can be assessed by V = AC – (E+S) (As per IPCC AR 6)
Climate change presents itself in a variety of ways, including rising temperatures, irregular rainfall
patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and changing growing seasons. These changes
have a direct impact on agriculture, resulting in changed crop yields, water shortages, soil degradation,

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and disruptions to established farming techniques. Smallholder farmers, in particular, are more vulnerable
since they rely on rain-fed agriculture and have little means to deal with climate-related risks.

Aspects that Cause Vulnerability

Vulnerability of any ecosystem due to climate change may be due to the following aspects:
1. Bio physical Vulnerability: Biophysical vulnerability refers to a system's or entity's vulnerability to
negative effects from physical and biological variables in its surroundings. Biophysical vulnerability applies
to ecosystems, creatures, and human populations in a variety of circumstances. It involves the interaction
of living creatures with their physical surroundings, taking into account climate, terrain, soil qualities, and
other environmental circumstances.
2. Socio-economic Vulnerability: Individuals, groups, or regions are susceptible to negative impacts and
dangers as a result of their social and economic features, which is referred to as socioeconomic vulnerability.
It is an evaluation of how numerous social and economic elements impact and shape a group's or
individual's ability to deal with, recover from, or adapt to external stresses, shocks, or changes.
3. Maladaptation: Lack of information, short-term planning, and execution are common causes of
maladaptation across geographies and systems. Policy actions that disregard the risks of negative
consequences can be maladaptive, exacerbating the effects and vulnerabilities to climate change.

Sectors that are Highly Vulnerable to Climate Change

According to IPCC AR6, climate change affects every region and section of the world, and many people,
particularly the marginalized and underprivileged, are especially susceptible. The research identifies five
critical industries and systems that are especially vulnerable to climate change, which include:
1. Food systems, Food security and Agriculture: Climate change will increase the demand on food
production systems, jeopardizing food security. With each increment of warming and exposure to climate
threats, the environment becomes more fragile, with negative consequences for the food industry. Increased
CO2 concentrations improve agricultural development and productivity while reducing the density of key
nutrients in some crops, increasing undernutrition and micronutrient insufficiency, making humans
vulnerable. Temperature and precipitation patterns are changing, impacting agricultural production and
food security, especially in areas where food poverty is already prevalent.
2. Water systems and Water security: Water-related dangers are expected to rise across all warming
levels, with risks being lower at normal temperatures than at higher levels of warming. Drought and
associated social impact are expected to worsen with each degree of warming. Projected changes in the
water cycle, water quality, cryosphere, drought, and flood will have a detrimental influence on natural and
human systems, rendering them increasingly susceptible.
3. Cities, settlements and infrastructure: Climate change raises the dangers for a broader range of
rising cities and settlements, particularly in coastal and mountain regions, making 2.5 billion people living
in cities, primarily in Africa and Asia, more susceptible by 2050. Climate change has deteriorated
terrestrial ecosystems on tiny islands, reducing resource supply (e.g., drinkable water) and increasing
people's vulnerability.
4. Economic sector: While severe events are not new, their severity and frequency are increasing poverty
and vulnerability in some countries, exacerbated by COVID-19, and competing with established
development routes, resulting in considerable global economic losses. There is evidence that many African
nations are particularly sensitive to climate-related losses, such as crop yield loss, demolished dwellings,
food insecurity caused by rising food costs, and relocation.
5. Health sector: Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of heatwaves, droughts, floods,
and other extreme weather events, which are affecting human health and well-being.
6. Coastal sector: Sea level rise, storms and coastal flooding are causing erosion, inundation, and
saltwater intrusion, leading to impacts on infrastructure, housing, and ecosystems.
7. Ecosystems and biodiversity: Climate change is leading to changes in the distribution and abundance
of species and changes in the functioning of ecosystems, which affects biodiversity and ecosystem services.

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Strategies to Minimise Vulnerability
1. Adapting to climate change can lower risks and vulnerabilities by adjusting existing systems.
2. Conserving, protecting, and restoring terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and ocean ecosystems, together
with focused adaptation to climate change impacts, minimizes biodiversity's vulnerability.
3. Meeting SDGs improves adaptive ability, enabling people, households, and communities to handle
climate hazards and maintain peace. Vulnerability may be decreased by improving livelihoods and
attaining the Sustainable Development Goals.
4. Including equitable adaptation and mitigation strategies in development planning can minimize
vulnerability and promote climate resilient development.
5. Integrating indigenous and local knowledge (IKLK) with scientific knowledge improves adaptive capacity
and reduces vulnerability. IKLK provides context-specific and culturally relevant understandings for
successful climate change responses and policies.

Role of Agricultural Extension in Addressing Climate Change Vulnerability

Agricultural extension services act as intermediaries between scientific knowledge and farmers, playing a
crucial role in disseminating information, building capacity, and fostering sustainable practices. These
services become instrumental in several key areas:
1. Promoting Climate-Resilient Farming Practices: Extension personnel may teach farmers about
climate-resilient farming techniques that improve adaptation. Conservation agriculture, agroforestry, and
crop diversification are all touted as methods for reducing vulnerability to climate-related hazards.
2. Weather-Responsive Decision-Making: Extension services give farmers with up-to-date weather
information and predictions, allowing them to make smart planting, irrigation, and harvesting decisions.
This pre-emptive strategy helps to lessen the effects of unexpected climatic trends.
3. Adopting Climate-Smart Technologies: Extension experts help farmers implement climate-smart
technology such as precision agriculture, drought-resistant crop types, and enhanced irrigation systems.
These technologies boost output while decreasing exposure to climate-related stresses.
4. Training on Sustainable Resource Management: Extension programs aim to educate farmers about
sustainable resource management strategies. Soil conservation, water efficiency, and prudent use of
agricultural inputs all contribute to climate resilience and environmental conservation. Extension
programs aim to educate farmers about sustainable resource management strategies. Soil conservation,
water efficiency, and prudent use of agricultural inputs all contribute to climate resilience and
environmental conservation.
5. Risk Assessment and Management: Extension professionals help farmers do risk assessments related
to climate change. Farmers may design and apply risk management methods by detecting possible hazards,
such as using insurance and diversifying their revenue streams.
6. Capacity Building for Climate Adaptation: Extension services work to increase capacity by
providing farmers with the knowledge and skills they need to adapt to climate change. Workshops, training
sessions, and demonstration farms all serve as venues for sharing best practices in the face of changing
climatic circumstances.
7. Community Engagement and Awareness: Extension programs help increase community
involvement and understanding about climate change. These services help communities to handle climate-
related concerns jointly by holding community meetings, disseminating information, and encouraging a
collaborative approach.

Conclusion
As the vulnerability of agriculture to climate change intensifies, the function of agricultural extension
services becomes increasingly important. Extension services help farmers create adaptive capacity by
supporting climate-resilient practices, delivering weather-responsive information, and increasing
community awareness. To secure a sustainable and resilient agricultural future, governments, academics,
and communities must continue to engage in and utilize the critical role of agricultural extension in
minimizing climate change's effects on our food systems.

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References
1. IPCC. (2022). Climate Change and Land: An IPCC Special Report on Climate Change, Desertification, Land Degradation,
Sustainable Land Management, Food Security, and Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Terrestrial Ecosystems. Cambridge University
Press.
2. Nkonya, E., & Mirzabaev, A. (2016). Economics of land degradation and improvement – A global assessment for sustainable
development. Routledge.
3. FAO. (2018). Climate-smart agriculture sourcebook. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
4. FAO. (2019). The State of Food and Agriculture 2019. Moving forward on food loss and waste reduction. Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations.
5. Thornton, P. K., Jones, P. G., Ericksen, P. J., & Challinor, A. J. (2011). Agriculture and food systems in sub-Saharan Africa in
a 4°C+ world. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 369(1934),
117-136.

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