9. Status of Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture Sector in Asia

Climate change adaptation in agriculture involves a systematic process of understanding, planning, implementation, and evaluation including structural and non-structural measures across various decision-making spheres. Generally, climate change adaptation in the agriculture sector in Asia is now primarily undertaken under the tenets of achieving food security and safety. The mode of implementation of climate change adaptation in agriculture varies across countries in Asia mainly because of the heterogeneous historical development of the region’s (1) sectoral policies on the environment and natural resources; and (2) utilisation of the land and water resources that are closely knitted to cultural identity. The common vision for agriculture in Asia under a climate change scenario is resilience of the food production system in terms of (1) enhancement of crop yields to sustain the population demand; (2) economic stability; and (3) reduction in vulnerability of farming communities. Clearly, the differences among countries can be attributed to the varied understanding of climate change and its spatial and temporal implications as well as the country’s level of economic growth. A trend among country reports suggests that climate change adaptation in agriculture is a combination of policy, research, and developmental discussions on food security and environmental governance. Overall, countries in Asia require access to sustainable financial mechanisms in order to support policy, research, and developmental projects on CCA in agriculture.