Climate-resilient agriculture in Bihar, India: impacts, challenges, and pathways for sustainable food systems

Abstract

Climate change poses a significant threat to agricultural sustainability through rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. Bihar, one of India's most climate-vulnerable agricultural states, faces considerable challenges in sustaining agricultural productivity, food security, and rural livelihoods under changing climatic conditions. This review synthesizes evidence from peer-reviewed research articles, government reports, institutional publications, and program documents to evaluate the scope, performance, and implications of Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) interventions implemented in Bihar. The review examines major climate-resilient technologies and management practices, including Zero Tillage (ZT), Laser Land Leveling (LLL), Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), Crop Diversification (CD), Site-Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM), climate-resilient crop varieties, and water-saving irrigation approaches. The reviewed literature indicates that these interventions generally enhance crop productivity, resource-use efficiency, soil health, and resilience to climatic stresses when compared with conventional farming practices. The evidence further highlights the potential of CRA to contribute to sustainable food production, climate adaptation, and the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the large-scale adoption and sustained effectiveness of CRA interventions remain constrained by several challenges, including limited access to machinery and credit, inadequate extension and advisory services, institutional and infrastructural limitations, fragmented landholdings, and concerns regarding the affordability and scalability of certain technologies for smallholder farmers. Furthermore, available evidence on the long-term environmental, economic, and social impacts of several CRA practices remains limited. Future research should focus on adoption dynamics, cost-effectiveness, long-term sustainability assessment, gender and equity dimensions, institutional innovations, and strategies for scaling climate-resilient technologies across diverse agroecological contexts. The review identifies key research and policy priorities for strengthening agricultural resilience and promoting sustainable food production in Bihar and other climate-vulnerable regions.