By Climate change resistant agriculture is farming done with climate change in mind. Extreme weather conditions, brought about by rapidly changing climate patterns threaten to disrupt traditional farming methods.
The result is that mankind may go hungry if it does not find a way to produce food despite the more frequent incidences of flooding, drought, and powerful windstorms.
These few changes can go a long way to secure the availability of food, and also to ensure that farming remains a viable career.
How To Farm Despite Climate Change
Dry Season Farming With Irrigation
Dry season farming with irrigation may be the most important step towards avoid climate change induced starvation. This means changing the time of planting so that crops are not destroyed by excessive rainfall leading to flooding.
Instead of planting in the rainy season, farmers can adjust their time tables, to plant their crops when they know that there is no rainfall.
Of course, to do this, farmers must first make provisions for water. In most places, a well, a pump, and a hose will do just fine. In other areas, the water may need to be stored in a tank, and may need to be brought in from distant sources.
The layout of the farm may even need to be changed; it can be planned in such a way that will leave roadways for water tanks to enter so that they can provide water during the dry season.
Whatever the case may be; farming independently of the natural water cycle is probably the best adaptation to changing climate conditions.
Vertical Farming
Vertical Farming is a relatively new concept – one that is gaining traction in many parts of the world because it allows farming to be done in urban areas, where land is often a scarce resource. However, a further benefit of this type of farming which people are starting to realize is that it does not depend on external factors such as rain or sunshine – those are catered for within the farm.
The farm is usually a greenhouse with a controlled environment. The heat, humidity and water supply are all well provisioned.
This is a great way to farm intensively in a small space. With 24 hour lighting the crop yield is usually better than it is with regular farming.
Intensive Animal Farming
Intensive Animal Farming, which some people call Factory Farming may be crucial to the survival of the human species if weather patterns continue to get worse. It often includes very elaborate concrete buildings like warehouses and factories – but it is exactly those buildings that will save the world.
When floods destroy the regular farms, factory farms are usually safe.
Additionally, instead of cattle, factory farms can gradually start to shift their focus to smaller animals such as rabbits, poultry, and fish. These animals are some of the most prolific breeders in the world, and can be quite sustainable.
Battery cages can be stacked quite high, in a manner that is reminiscent of vertical farming, with the result that more animals can be bred, and more meat can be produced for the markets.
Planting Flood Resistant Crops
Botanical science has already done wonders for food diversity; there are now crop varieties that have numerous desirable adaptations. However, as more and more water continues to be retained in previously dry areas, the world will need to develop more crops that can withstand excessive rainfall.
Flood resistant crops like wheat, corn, and cassava, as well as trees like apples, mangoes, and pears will have to be adapted to the water. Varieties of these trees will have to be developed to grow in greenhouses so that they can produce fruit year-round.
Further Reading:
- Why A Greenhouse Is Better Than A Poultry Farm
- How To Make A Poultry House Snake-Proof
- How To Make Poultry Feed
Climate change is changing everything about the world including, agriculture. It is often better to make the necessary changes early. These changes will eventually need to be made as long as the climate situation continues to worsen.
