Sustainable Agriculture in India: Do we know enough to scale up?

The first-of-its-kind study maps the state of sustainable agriculture in India and how it can be scaled up to secure farm incomes, nutrition security, and natural capital in a climate-changing world. This research identifies around 30 most relevant sustainable agriculture practices (SAPS) practised in India and assessed in detail the 16 most promising of them. Using a systematic review approach, this study gathers insights from the literature and more than 40 consultations with government officials, agriculture institutions, and a primary survey with 180 CSOs promoting sustainable agriculture. An in-depth review of these practices concludes that sustainable agriculture is far from mainstream in India. Most practices and systems are being practised by less than five million (or four per cent) of all farmers. In fact, many are practised by less than one per cent. Only five (crop rotation; agroforestry; rainwater harvesting; mulching and precision) practices scale beyond 5 per cent of the net sown area. It further recommends several measures for promoting SAPS, including restructuring government support and rigorous evidence generation. By assessing the on-ground adoption of these practices and their impact on incomes, environment, and society, the study serves as a handbook for policymakers, administrators, philanthropic organisations, among others to make evidence-backed decisions to scale-up sustainable agriculture practices in India as appropriate.