Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices in the Indo-gangetic Plain: A Micro-level Cost-benefit Perspective
Anuj Kumar *
Department of Commerce, Institute of Oriental Philosophy, Vrindavan, Mathura-281121, (U.P.), India.
Swami Prasad Saxena
Department of Applied Business Economics, Faculty of Commerce, Dayalbagh Educational Institute (Deemed to be University), Agra -282005, (U.P.), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: This study assesses the economic rationality of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices implemented by cultivators in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) region of India. Despite the growing body of international literature, the economic feasibility of CSA practices in the Indian IGP context remains underexplored.
Methodology: The analysis is based on primary data collected in 2024, from a survey of 400 randomly selected farmers across five districts in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Results: The findings indicate a high level of awareness and widespread adoption of CSA practices among the respondents. The empirical estimates derived from the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) and Net Present Value (NPV) analyses suggest that, with the exception of conventional fertilizer application and Site-Specific Integrated Nutrient Management (SSINM), all assessed Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) interventions exhibit positive net economic returns and satisfy the threshold criteria for financial viability.
Conclusion: These findings underscore the critical role of CSA in enhancing farm-level resilience and agricultural productivity under changing climatic conditions.
Keywords: Climate-smart agriculture, Indo-Gangetic plain, adaptation, economic evaluation, cost-benefit analysis