Conservation Agriculture in NE India A pathway for mitigating climate change
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Dr Lakshmi Dhar Hatai
Conservation Agriculture (CA) is emerging as a vital approach across North East India, a region increasingly stressed by soil degradation, water scarcity, and shifting climatic patterns. The North East experiences heavy rainfall—averaging around 2,450 mm annually—but paradoxically faces water shortages in non-monsoon months due to poor retention and widespread land degradation. Soil erosion and degradation are especially severe: Assam and Meghalaya exhibit potential soil loss rates of approximately 78 mt/ha/year— nearly four times the National average of 21mt/ha/year—threatening both productivity and long-term sustainability. Meanwhile, an estimated 9.14% of the region’s geographical area is degraded, a marked increase from earlier assess- ments, with soil acidity and erosion particularly prevalent in states such as Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. Conventional practices like short-cycle jhum (shifting cultivation), once supported by long fallow periods, now fail to regenerate soil fertility—especially as fallow cycles have contracted from 10–15 years to merely 2–3 years—leading to severe soil and biodiversity losses. To counter these threats, conservation agriculture techniques—including minimum tillage, residue retention, and crop rotation— offer significant promise. While region-specific yield impacts in North East India are still being studied, findings from analogous hill regions show conservation agriculture can reduce runoff by nearly 45% and soil loss by over 50%, alongside yield increases of 6–13% compared to conventional tillage. Moreover, the region benefits from rich indigenous and community-driven practices rooted in traditional agricultural wisdom : the Rüza (Zabo) system in Nagaland integrates rainwater harvesting, rice cultivation, fish farming, and livestock management—yielding paddy at 3–4 mt/ha and fish at 50–60 kg/ha. Other hill-area techniques include the Apatani integrated paddy-fish terraces in Arunachal Pradesh and constructed spring systems in Megha-laya, which help conserve soil and water through collective and sustainable methods. By embracing both modern conservation agriculture principles and traditional ecological practices, North East India can enhance soil health, improve water use efficiency, increase productivity, preserve biodiversity, and build climate resilience—laying a sound foundation for sustainable development in a region facing pressing environmental and agricultural challenges.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2009) of the United Nations this conservation agriculture concept is resource saving agricultural crop production technology. Conservation Agriculture (CA) is a range of practices which include direct sowing, no tillage/zero tillage, minimum tillage, surface incorporation of crop residues and establishment of cover crops. It is a practice to achieve acceptable profits, high and sustained production level and conserve the environment. Conservation Agriculture is a concept for resource-saving agricultural crop pro- duction that strives to achieve acceptable profits together with high and sustained production levels while concurrently conserving the environment. It is managing agro-ecosystems for improved and sustained productivity, increased profits and food security while preserving and enhancing the resource base and the environment. Conservation Agriculture is a win-win system based on the integrated management of soil, water and agricultural resources. Its main objective is economically, ecologically and socially sustainable agricultural production while the soil is being regenerated and soil degradation reversed. It is a way of farming that conserves, improves, and en- sures efficient use of natural resources. It aims to help farmers achieve profits with sustained production levels while conserving the environment (FAO, 2009). Conservation Agriculture is needed because conventional methods of farming cannot cope with the increasing needs of the ever- expanding human and livestock populations. Conser- vation actions stop and reverse land degradation. Conservation Agriculture boosts productivity and contributes to reducing land degradation and increase food security and to mitigate the climate change NE Region.
Conservation Agriculture is guided by three interrelated principles that must be applied together for effective and sustainable land management: maintaining permanent soil cover, minimizing soil disturbance, and implementing crop mixing and rotation. The principle of permanent soil cover involves keeping the soil protected with plant resi-dues or cover crops, which reduces erosion by minimizing the impact of raindrops, lowers water runoff, conserves soil moisture through reduced evaporation, suppresses weed growth, and improves soil organic matter and nutrient levels. It also supports beneficial soil organisms like worms and millipedes and helps regulate soil temperature. Minimizing soil disturbance means reducing or eliminating traditional tillage prac- tices, which helps preserve soil structure, prevent erosion, and improve water infiltration. This approach slows the breakdown of organic matter, supports soil biodiversity, reduces com-paction, and lowers the energy and labor required for land preparation. The third key principle, crop mixing and rotation, plays a vital role in enhancing soil fertility and crop resilience. Incorporating nitrogen-fixing legumes into crop systems acts as a natural fertilizer, improving nutrient availability. Rotating crops and intercropping enhances the efficient use of soil nutrients while disrupting the life cycles of weeds, pests, and diseases, reducing their impact without heavy chemical use. Furthermore, this diversity in cropping systems helps stabilize yields by spreading risks, especially under challenging conditions such as drought or disease outbreaks. When applied together, these three principles form the foundation of Conservation Agriculture, promoting long-term productivity and environmental sustainability.
Conservation agriculture offers significant benefits at the farm, regional, and national levels, playing a crucial role in the sustainable management of natural resources and agricultural development. For farmers, it helps reduce production costs by lowering energy, labor, and water requirements, which in turn increases farm income. The approach also leads to savings on fuel, equipment maintenance, and replacements. It promotes higher and more stable crop yields, improving resilience against droughts and other climate-related hazards. Addi- tionally, it reduces physical labor, especially benefiting women and vulnerable individuals, while enabling farmers to diversify crops and income-generating activities—resulting in improved diets, reduced risks, and better overall livelihoods. At the community and environmental level, Conservation Agriculture supports food security and improved nutrition for both humans and livestock. It enhances water quality, quantity, and availability year-round, while also protecting land resources through improved soil fertility, regeneration, and erosion control, eliminating the need to clear new land. Air quality benefits from reduced fuel use and the elimination of residue burning, and the system contributes to carbon sequestration by increasing soil organic carbon, helping mitigate climate change. Furthermore, biodiversity is enriched through diverse crop rotations and the preservation of natural eco- systems, reducing pressure on marginal lands and forests. These environmental improvements, combined with higher rural incomes, contribute to more sustainable production systems and help curb rural-to-urban migration in NE India
Conservation Agriculture (CA) in North East India faces multiple constraints that inhibit its widespread adoption despite its environmental and productivity benefits. A key hurdle is farmers’ entrenched preference for traditional inten- sive practices, driven by the belief that they yield higher economic returns. This mindset is compounded by low awareness of CA’s long-term advantages, especially zero or minimal tillage methods, which necessitate intensive education and practical demonstrations. Without firsthand experience of benefits—such as soil moisture conservation and increased yields—many remain skep-tical of transitioning to such systems. Another significant barrier is the scarce availability and prohibitive cost of specialized CA machinery. In the hilly terrain of the Northeast, there is a pressing need for lightweight, small-scale imple- ments—such as no-till seed drills and planters—adapted to local conditions, yet these remain largely inaccessible and unaffordable to resource-poor farmers. More- over, implementing CA requires a new set of technical skills—from residue retention to operating new machinery—but training and extension services in the region are limited, particularly in remote or tribal areas. Additionally, high input costs and limited awareness of adaptive agricultural techniques remain core obstacles. Many tribal farmers report rising expenses for inputs like fertilizers and seeds, along with inadequate support in understanding effective adaptation measures. This is despite the fact that over two-thirds of tribal farmers perceive climate change as a pressing issue and express readiness for action if properly supported. Financial constraints, including limited access to credit and subsidies, further restrict adoption. Many small and marginal farmers in hilly agro-ecologies lack the capital to invest in CA technologies or to buffer against initial yield variations during transition.
The Conservation Agriculture technologies pro- mise tremendous potential for sustainable agricultural development in NE India. These practices are applicable to virtually all the crops viz. cereals, horticulture and plantation crops. Conservation agriculture technologies and practices are not only technically feasible but also economically viable. Conservation Agriculture is as an approach to farming that seeks to increase food security, alleviate poverty, conserve biodiversity and safeguard ecosystem services. Conservation Agri- culture practices can also contribute to making agricultural systems more resilient to climate change. Moreover, there are potential benefits of CA for different agro-ecological systems. There is a need of mission for promoting CA to increase and sustain agricultural production as well as to mitigate the climate change in NE India.
The writer is working as a Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural Economics at College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur-795004
Conservation Agriculture (CA) is emerging as a vital approach across North East India, a region increasingly stressed by soil degradation, water scarcity, and shifting climatic patterns. The North East experiences heavy rainfall—averaging around 2,450 mm annually—but paradoxically faces water shortages in non-monsoon months due to poor retention and widespread land degradation. Soil erosion and degradation are especially severe: Assam and Meghalaya exhibit potential soil loss rates of approximately 78 mt/ha/year— nearly four times the National average of 21mt/ha/year—threatening both productivity and long-term sustainability. Meanwhile, an estimated 9.14% of the region’s geographical area is degraded, a marked increase from earlier assess- ments, with soil acidity and erosion particularly prevalent in states such as Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. Conventional practices like short-cycle jhum (shifting cultivation), once supported by long fallow periods, now fail to regenerate soil fertility—especially as fallow cycles have contracted from 10–15 years to merely 2–3 years—leading to severe soil and biodiversity losses. To counter these threats, conservation agriculture techniques—including minimum tillage, residue retention, and crop rotation— offer significant promise. While region-specific yield impacts in North East India are still being studied, findings from analogous hill regions show conservation agriculture can reduce runoff by nearly 45% and soil loss by over 50%, alongside yield increases of 6–13% compared to conventional tillage. Moreover, the region benefits from rich indigenous and community-driven practices rooted in traditional agricultural wisdom : the Rüza (Zabo) system in Nagaland integrates rainwater harvesting, rice cultivation, fish farming, and livestock management—yielding paddy at 3–4 mt/ha and fish at 50–60 kg/ha. Other hill-area techniques include the Apatani integrated paddy-fish terraces in Arunachal Pradesh and constructed spring systems in Megha-laya, which help conserve soil and water through collective and sustainable methods. By embracing both modern conservation agriculture principles and traditional ecological practices, North East India can enhance soil health, improve water use efficiency, increase productivity, preserve biodiversity, and build climate resilience—laying a sound foundation for sustainable development in a region facing pressing environmental and agricultural challenges.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2009) of the United Nations this conservation agriculture concept is resource saving agricultural crop production technology. Conservation Agriculture (CA) is a range of practices which include direct sowing, no tillage/zero tillage, minimum tillage, surface incorporation of crop residues and establishment of cover crops. It is a practice to achieve acceptable profits, high and sustained production level and conserve the environment. Conservation Agriculture is a concept for resource-saving agricultural crop pro- duction that strives to achieve acceptable profits together with high and sustained production levels while concurrently conserving the environment. It is managing agro-ecosystems for improved and sustained productivity, increased profits and food security while preserving and enhancing the resource base and the environment. Conservation Agriculture is a win-win system based on the integrated management of soil, water and agricultural resources. Its main objective is economically, ecologically and socially sustainable agricultural production while the soil is being regenerated and soil degradation reversed. It is a way of farming that conserves, improves, and en- sures efficient use of natural resources. It aims to help farmers achieve profits with sustained production levels while conserving the environment (FAO, 2009). Conservation Agriculture is needed because conventional methods of farming cannot cope with the increasing needs of the ever- expanding human and livestock populations. Conser- vation actions stop and reverse land degradation. Conservation Agriculture boosts productivity and contributes to reducing land degradation and increase food security and to mitigate the climate change NE Region.
Conservation Agriculture is guided by three interrelated principles that must be applied together for effective and sustainable land management: maintaining permanent soil cover, minimizing soil disturbance, and implementing crop mixing and rotation. The principle of permanent soil cover involves keeping the soil protected with plant resi-dues or cover crops, which reduces erosion by minimizing the impact of raindrops, lowers water runoff, conserves soil moisture through reduced evaporation, suppresses weed growth, and improves soil organic matter and nutrient levels. It also supports beneficial soil organisms like worms and millipedes and helps regulate soil temperature. Minimizing soil disturbance means reducing or eliminating traditional tillage prac- tices, which helps preserve soil structure, prevent erosion, and improve water infiltration. This approach slows the breakdown of organic matter, supports soil biodiversity, reduces com-paction, and lowers the energy and labor required for land preparation. The third key principle, crop mixing and rotation, plays a vital role in enhancing soil fertility and crop resilience. Incorporating nitrogen-fixing legumes into crop systems acts as a natural fertilizer, improving nutrient availability. Rotating crops and intercropping enhances the efficient use of soil nutrients while disrupting the life cycles of weeds, pests, and diseases, reducing their impact without heavy chemical use. Furthermore, this diversity in cropping systems helps stabilize yields by spreading risks, especially under challenging conditions such as drought or disease outbreaks. When applied together, these three principles form the foundation of Conservation Agriculture, promoting long-term productivity and environmental sustainability.
Conservation agriculture offers significant benefits at the farm, regional, and national levels, playing a crucial role in the sustainable management of natural resources and agricultural development. For farmers, it helps reduce production costs by lowering energy, labor, and water requirements, which in turn increases farm income. The approach also leads to savings on fuel, equipment maintenance, and replacements. It promotes higher and more stable crop yields, improving resilience against droughts and other climate-related hazards. Addi- tionally, it reduces physical labor, especially benefiting women and vulnerable individuals, while enabling farmers to diversify crops and income-generating activities—resulting in improved diets, reduced risks, and better overall livelihoods. At the community and environmental level, Conservation Agriculture supports food security and improved nutrition for both humans and livestock. It enhances water quality, quantity, and availability year-round, while also protecting land resources through improved soil fertility, regeneration, and erosion control, eliminating the need to clear new land. Air quality benefits from reduced fuel use and the elimination of residue burning, and the system contributes to carbon sequestration by increasing soil organic carbon, helping mitigate climate change. Furthermore, biodiversity is enriched through diverse crop rotations and the preservation of natural eco- systems, reducing pressure on marginal lands and forests. These environmental improvements, combined with higher rural incomes, contribute to more sustainable production systems and help curb rural-to-urban migration in NE India
Conservation Agriculture (CA) in North East India faces multiple constraints that inhibit its widespread adoption despite its environmental and productivity benefits. A key hurdle is farmers’ entrenched preference for traditional inten- sive practices, driven by the belief that they yield higher economic returns. This mindset is compounded by low awareness of CA’s long-term advantages, especially zero or minimal tillage methods, which necessitate intensive education and practical demonstrations. Without firsthand experience of benefits—such as soil moisture conservation and increased yields—many remain skep-tical of transitioning to such systems. Another significant barrier is the scarce availability and prohibitive cost of specialized CA machinery. In the hilly terrain of the Northeast, there is a pressing need for lightweight, small-scale imple- ments—such as no-till seed drills and planters—adapted to local conditions, yet these remain largely inaccessible and unaffordable to resource-poor farmers. More- over, implementing CA requires a new set of technical skills—from residue retention to operating new machinery—but training and extension services in the region are limited, particularly in remote or tribal areas. Additionally, high input costs and limited awareness of adaptive agricultural techniques remain core obstacles. Many tribal farmers report rising expenses for inputs like fertilizers and seeds, along with inadequate support in understanding effective adaptation measures. This is despite the fact that over two-thirds of tribal farmers perceive climate change as a pressing issue and express readiness for action if properly supported. Financial constraints, including limited access to credit and subsidies, further restrict adoption. Many small and marginal farmers in hilly agro-ecologies lack the capital to invest in CA technologies or to buffer against initial yield variations during transition.
The Conservation Agriculture technologies pro- mise tremendous potential for sustainable agricultural development in NE India. These practices are applicable to virtually all the crops viz. cereals, horticulture and plantation crops. Conservation agriculture technologies and practices are not only technically feasible but also economically viable. Conservation Agriculture is as an approach to farming that seeks to increase food security, alleviate poverty, conserve biodiversity and safeguard ecosystem services. Conservation Agri- culture practices can also contribute to making agricultural systems more resilient to climate change. Moreover, there are potential benefits of CA for different agro-ecological systems. There is a need of mission for promoting CA to increase and sustain agricultural production as well as to mitigate the climate change in NE India.
The writer is working as a Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural Economics at College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur-795004