Adapting Rajasthan’s Agriculture to Climate Change with Solar Parks

Abstract

Climate change poses a profound threat to agriculture worldwide, disrupting food systems, compromising livelihoods, and undermining long-term environmental sustainability. In India, where agriculture remains a primary source of income for a significant portion of the population, climate-induced stresses such as rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events are increasingly affecting both crop yields and livestock productivity. This paper delves into the global and national implications of climate change on agriculture, with a focused regional analysis of Rajasthan one of India’s most climate-vulnerable and arid states. It critically analyses the socioeconomic consequences for marginal and smallholder farmers, who are disproportionately affected due to limited adaptive capacity. In response to these growing challenges, the paper evaluates the integration of renewable energy particularly solar energy into the agricultural ecosystem. By synthesizing climate data, field-level observations, and case studies, this paper presents a comprehensive set of adaptation and mitigation strategies tailored for arid and semi-arid agricultural regions.