The correct answer is: d) All of the above
Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is a holistic approach to managing land, water, and other resources that addresses the challenges of climate change while simultaneously increasing agricultural productivity and incomes. CSA practices can help farmers adapt to drought, heat stress, and new pests and diseases in a number of ways.
For example, CSA practices that improve water management can help farmers reduce their reliance on irrigation during droughts. CSA practices that increase crop diversity can help farmers protect their crops from pests and diseases. And CSA practices that build soil health can help farmers make their crops more resilient to heat stress.
Overall, CSA is a promising approach to helping farmers adapt to the challenges of climate change. By adopting CSA practices, farmers can reduce their risk of crop failure, increase their yields, and improve their livelihoods.
Here are some additional details about each of the options:
- Drought: Drought is a major challenge for farmers around the world. Climate change is making droughts more frequent and severe, which is putting a strain on agricultural production. CSA practices that improve water management can help farmers reduce their reliance on irrigation during droughts. For example, farmers can use rainwater harvesting or drip irrigation to conserve water.
- Heat stress: Heat stress is another major challenge for farmers. Climate change is making temperatures hotter and more extreme, which is putting a strain on crops. CSA practices that build soil health can help farmers make their crops more resilient to heat stress. For example, farmers can add organic matter to the soil, which helps to cool the soil and retain moisture.
- New pests and diseases: Climate change is also creating new opportunities for pests and diseases to spread. This is a major challenge for farmers, as it can lead to crop losses. CSA practices that increase crop diversity can help farmers protect their crops from pests and diseases. For example, farmers can plant a variety of crops, which makes it more difficult for pests and diseases to spread.