2008 A P P L I E D A N D N A T U R A L S C I E N C E F O U N D A T I O N   Journal of Applied and Natural Science 6 (2): 872 - 879 (2014) An overview of organic agriculture: A potential strategy for climate change mitigation G. T. Patle*, K. K. Badyopadhyay 1 and Mukesh Kumar 2 Department of Soil and Water Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology, Gangtok -737135, INDIA 1 Division of Agricultural Physics, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi - 110012, INDIA 2 Water Technology Centre, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi - 110012, INDIA *Corresponding author. E-mail: gtpatle77@gmail.com Received: May 23, 2014; Revised received: August 18, 2014 ; Accepted: October 18, 2014 Abstract Indian agriculture has changed considerably in the past several decades. Since post green revolution era, Indian farming basically shifted from the conventional farming system to towards the mechanized farming system and relies heavily on agricultural inputs such as chemical fertilizers, pesticides, heavy farm machineries and irrigation, which are dependent on fossil fuels. Large scale use of these inputs also contributed in emission of greenhouse gases which are mainly responsible for global warming and consequently climate change. Agriculture plays a unique role in the climate change mitigation because of its potential to lower greenhouse gases emissions through carbon sequestration. Organic agriculture is being considered as one of the appropriate farming systems that could serve the twin objectives of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Compared to conventional agriculture, organic agriculture is considered to be more energy efficient and effective both in reducing green house gases emission mainly due to the less use of chemical fertilizers and fossil fuel and enhancing the soil organic carbon. Promotion and adaptation of organic farming in developing country like India can serve as mitigation strategy of climate change. Keywords: Climate change, GHG, INCCA, Mitigation, Organic agriculture INTRODUCTION Global agricultural food production system is principally climate driven. Climate change, its impacts and vulnerabilities on agriculture and associated sector is a matter of big concern in the current era (Goyal, 2004; Kumar et al., 2004; Mimi and Jamous, 2010; Verge et al., 2007; Wani et al., 2013). Although climate change is a natural phenomenon but worldwide studies on climate change and its consequences have put the evidences of unfavorable effect of climate change on agriculture and allied sectors (Garg et al., 2001; Kumar and Parikh, 2001; Aggarwal, 2003; Mall et al., 2006; Patle et al., 2013a). It is reported that agriculture contributes about 13.5% to 30% of all global emissions of greenhouse gases (Foereid et al., 2008). It is now accepted that anthropogenic activities are responsible for increased concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere and is the major causes of global warming (IPCC, 2001). Intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) clearly reported that global mean surface air temperature would increase by 1.1 to 6.4 °C by 2100 under different emission scenarios (IPCC, 2007a). Similarly, Indian network on climate change assessment has also reported an all-round warming (1.7°C to 2.0°C) and increase in rainfall (3% to 7%) over the Indian ISSN : 0974-9411 (Print), 2231-5209 (Online) All Rights Reserved © Applied and Natural Science Foundation www.ansfoundation.org subcontinent by the 2030s (INCCA, 2010). Krishna Kumar et al. (2011) also projected to rise in mean air temperature and rainfall by 2080s in the India. In developing countries like India, climate change and its probable impact on agriculture pay a special attention because agriculture play a vital role in the country’s economy. Agriculture accounts for the 14% of the nation’s GDP and 11% of its exports and about half of the population still relies on agriculture as its principal source of income. Similarly, agriculture is a source of raw material for a large number of industries (MOA, 2012). Climate change may affect adversely the crop production system, water availability and can induce the food security problems for millions of peoples in the future (Sinha et al., 1998). In India, agriculture contributes about 17.6% of the country’s total GHGs emission (INCCA, 2010). An intensive agricultural practice during the post green revolution era without caring for the environment has supposedly played a major role towards enhancement of the greenhouse gases. Due to increase in demand for food production the farmers have started growing more than one crop a year through repeated tillage operations using conventional agricultural practices (Patle et al., 2013b). Since post green revolution era, Indian farming basically shifted from the conventional agricultural practices to towards