Which practice can enhance farmers' resilience to climate change?

Crop diversification is a practice that significantly enhances farmers' resilience to climate change by promoting a variety of crops in a single farming operation. This approach reduces the risk associated with climate variability and extreme weather events, as different crops may respond differently to changes in temperature, precipitation, and growing conditions. For instance, if one crop suffers due to a drought or pest outbreak, other crops may thrive under those conditions, which can help stabilize a farmer's income and food production.

Additionally, crop diversification can improve soil health and biodiversity, making ecosystems more robust and able to withstand environmental stress. By diversifying the types of crops planted, farmers can also optimize their resources more efficiently, improve pest management through crop rotation, and reduce reliance on chemical inputs. These overall benefits contribute to enhanced sustainability and adaptability in the face of a changing climate.

In contrast, practices such as monoculture planting and dependency on chemical fertilizers tend to create a more vulnerable agricultural system. Monoculture reduces biodiversity and can lead to a higher susceptibility to disease and pest outbreaks. Likewise, relying heavily on chemical fertilizers often depletes soil health over time, exacerbating the negative effects of climate change and ultimately harming the long-term viability of farming operations. Similarly, soil depletion compromises the foundational resource necessary for plant