Heavy rainfall resilience: adoption of climate smart agriculture among marginal farmers in a sub-basin of India

Heavy rainfall is a significant challenge for marginal farmers in the aspect of sustainable agriculture. This research analyzed data from eight grid points over 42 years to determine rainfall criteria: 50.91 mm to 79.65 mm for heavy rain, 76.95 mm to 101.21 mm for extreme rain, and 101.21 mm for rare 24-hour occurrences. The vulnerability mapping found 58 agriculturally susceptible communities. Research shows cashew nuts, coriander, sugarcane, sweet potatoes, and turmeric are the five main crops in the 58 most susceptible villages to heavy rainfall. These villages contain a greater number of marginal farmers. The DELPHI method revealed that coriander is the most susceptible crop. In this study, climate-smart agricultural practices such as Integrated Pest Management methods, shifting crop seasons, and Meghdoot application projections are used to minimize the damages caused by heavy rainfall. This includes protecting crops before heavy rainfall and monitoring them after heavy rainfall. For emission reduction as one of the pillars of Climate Smart Agriculture, biochar from biomass breakdown without oxygen is suggested. A poll found that 44% of respondents would use social entrepreneurship for biochar kilns. As, a result 33 farmers from 7 villages used the suggested Integrated Pest Management Technique and Meghdoot to harvest their second season with minimum losses.