Climate change is the most important and dangerous issue for agricultural production. Climate change affects our production in several ways, like high temperatures, dry conditions, low and irregular patterns of rainfall, and high floods that affect our country as well as the world’s economic level. Therefore, we should understand the phenomena and causes of climate change and their effect on the production of crops. Low yield level, we can mitigate climate issues by adopting sustainable agriculture practices .
Causes
Human contribution
Greenhouse gases like SO2, CO2, CO, CL, and HNO3 all these gases come out in our environment by using different modern machines like refrigerators, automobiles, air conditioners, and photocopiers that deplete the ozone layer. These gases also cause Smog, which is a combination of fog and smoke that comes from industries which is directly affecting the human respiratory system, skin issues, and eye irritation. By burning solid fuels, fossil fuel is a type of energy that can not be reused. Fossil fuels like petroleum, gas, oil, by burning of coal, oil in power plants, vehicles, and also in homes. Environmental destruction due to wars, by dropping missiles, like the recent war of 2025 between Pakistan and India, which destroys the environment.
Fluctuation in the weather pattern
Abrupt change in climatic pattern makes it difficult for farmers to know the best time to plant and harvest. Climate change causes higher temperatures, heat stress, and poor moisture. These conditions disrupt plant growth, reduce grain formation, and lead to lower harvests, especially for staple crops like maize, wheat, and rice. Due to high temperatures, melting of glaciers occurs, which leads to floods and destruction of freshwater reservoirs. According to the UNO report 20cm sea level rise occurred when a 0.6 degree centigrade temperature increase occurred. In 2025, major flood disasters occurred globally, with Pakistan experiencing the most severe impact, including its worst flooding in decades in some regions. Flood can block the soil pores and affect the gas exchange that leads fall of the crop.
Fluctuation in monsoon pattern
Early or late rains can spoil crops, delay planting, or cause poor germination and reduce productivity. During low rainfall drought conditions occur, then plants will face shrinking of leaves, weakened soil structure, lowering soil fertility also organic matter and defoliation. It was seen in Pakistan’s history that after 61 years, in 2025, a monsoon shortage occurred during January and February. Due to global warming, acid rains also come, which damage crops, buildings, and spoil water, and disturb the marine ecosystem, causing water-borne diseases like typhoid, and also eutrophication, dead bodies of organisms on the upper surface of water that can not penetrate the sunlight into water, and aquatic habitats are disturbed by reducing oxygen levels.
Increase pests and diseases.
Warmer temperatures create favourable breeding for pests, fungi, and harmful insects such as locusts and armyworms. Diseases that were once limited to warmer regions can spread to new areas, causing widespread crop damage.
Water scarcity for irrigation
Water is a blessing of Allah and a necessity of life. Irrigation is a main source of agriculture. When we use water affected for crop production that comes from lakes and rivers, mixed with arsenicals. That affected water disturbs xylem, pphloemmovement and also nutrient movement. Rising temperatures increase evaporation from soil and water bodies. Rainfall becomes unpredictable, causing rivers, dams, and groundwater to dry up. Farmers struggle to irrigate crops, especially in drought-prone regions.
Loss of biodiversity
The livestock sector is a vital component of Agriculture and plays a vital role in the country’s economy and GDP. High temperatures cause heat stress in animals, reducing their appetite, fertility, growth and milk, and meat production. Drought reduces grazing land and water sources that leading to malnutrition and livestock deaths.
Food security
Increasing the population density and reducing Agricultural inputs leads to lower food supply in markets. With demand remaining the same or rising, food becomes more expensive. This affects household food security and increases hunger and malnutrition.
Chemical Use in Agriculture
When we use pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers that harm crops by releasing nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide. Nitrous oxide is 300 times more carbon-fixing than ozone. Excessive use of chemicals leads to soil degradation, reducing natural soil fertility and altering its structure over time. Chemicals also contribute to the loss of biodiversity by killing beneficial organisms such as bees, earthworms, a nd natural predators of pests, which disturbs the ecological balance.
Old farming practices
Many old practices, such as planting the same crop on the same land every year, reduce soil nutrients and make the soil less fertile. Old ways of watering crops, such as flooding the field, waste a lot of water and can damage the soil. Using simple tools and depending mostly on manual labor, which leads to low crop production.
Solutions to Climate Change and Agriculture
Agriculture depends directly on climatic conditions. Droughts, floods, and heat waves reduce yields and degrade soil quality. The solution lies not in abandoning farming, but in transforming it to be more sustainable, resilient, and climate-friendly. Conversely, farming practices such as deforestation and excessive fertilizer use release carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, fueling the very climate crisis that harms crops.
1. Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an approach that increases productivity while reducing emissions. It emphasizes efficient resource use, sustainable land management, and adaptive practices suited to local conditions.
2. Soil Carbon Sequestration
Healthy soils act as carbon sinks. By adopting conservation tillage, using organic compost, and planting cover crops, farmers can store carbon in the soil instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.
3. Diversification of Crops
Monoculture systems are highly vulnerable to climate shocks. Crop diversification—growing multiple species and varieties—enhances resilience, improves soil fertility, and ensures food security even during adverse weather.
4. Agroforestry System
Integrating trees with crops and livestock offers multiple benefits. Trees provide shade, reduce soil erosion, capture carbon, and enhance biodiversity. Agroforestry also offers farmers additional income sources through fruits, nuts, or timber.
5. Efficient Water Management
With changing rainfall patterns, water conservation has become crucial. Techniques like drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and scheduling irrigation based on soil moisture sensors help optimize water use.
6. Adoption of Renewable Energy
Transitioning from diesel-powered machinery to solar and wind energy reduces emissions and operating costs. Solar pumps, biogas plants, and small wind turbines can make farms self-sufficient in energy.
7. Precision Agriculture and Technology
Digital technologies—such as satellite monitoring, drones, and AI-based soil analysis—help farmers make data-driven decisions. This leads to better fertilizer application, reduced waste, and higher yields.
8. Reduction of Food Waste
Nearly one-third of all food produced is wasted, releasing large amounts of methane when it decomposes. Improving storage facilities, logistics, and consumer awareness can significantly reduce this waste.
9. Sustainable Livestock Management
Livestock are major sources of methane. Improved feeding practices, rotational grazing, and the use of feed additives can reduce emissions while maintaining animal health and productivity.
10. Policy Support and Incentives
Governments play a crucial role in supporting sustainable agriculture. Subsidies for renewable technologies, crop insurance, and carbon credit schemes can motivate farmers to adopt climate-friendly methods.
11. Education and Capacity Building
Empowering farmers through training and knowledge-sharing helps them adapt to changing conditions. Agricultural extension services should focus on practical, locally relevant climate adaptation strategies.
12. Research and Innovation
Continuous research is needed to develop climate-resilient crop varieties and new farming systems. Partnerships between universities, the private sector, and farmers can accelerate innovation.
13. Global Collaboration
Climate change knows no borders. International cooperation, fair trade policies, and shared technologies are essential to ensure that all nations—especially developing ones—can achieve sustainable food systems
Rumaisa Eman
University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
