Potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cropping in India: Where (district), Which (crop), and Who (farmers)

Abstract India is among the largest emitters of agricultural greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the world and is dominated by small-scale farmers who are highly vulnerable to climate change. To help target interventions most likely to reduce emissions from croplands while benefiting farmers, we estimate emissions of three different greenhouse gases (GHGs) for 44 crops at a district level using an ensemble of models connected to clear management actions: nitrous-oxide (N2O) linked to nutrient management, methane (CH4) linked to water management and organic inputs in rice, and both N2O and CH4 emissions from burning crop residue. Results vary across districts (where), suggesting a tailored rather than one-size-fits-all approach for interventions. Rice production (which) is the largest source of net GHG emissions; improving water management to reduce emissions would have multiple co-benefits, including reduced strain on water resources at the landscape scale. Because small farms (<2 ha) (who) have the highest emission intensity, driven by rice-dominated systems with low crop diversity and higher rates of nitrogen application, they present the most potential for triple wins. Improving the management of organic inputs, reducing excess synthetic fertilizer use, and diversifying crops for small farms would help reduce national emissions while strengthening climate resilience and livelihoods. The data and results from this paper can help develop district-level targeted interventions to minimize crop GHG emissions