Agroecological transition pathways for India: scaling from homesteads to multifunctional landscapes

India’s agrifood system stands at a critical juncture as the country seeks to sustain food security gains while addressing soil degradation, groundwater depletion, declining input-use efficiency, and growing climate risks. With over 40% of land degraded, falling water tables in key agrarian regions, and increasing concerns around food safety and nutrition, the policy discourse is shifting from productivity-centric growth toward sustainability, resilience, and human health. In this context, agroecology offers a science-based yet locally adaptable pathway that integrates ecological principles, traditional knowledge, and innovation to strengthen rural livelihoods and multifunctionality in agricultural landscapes.

This technical report synthesizes emerging evidence from the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), and partners to propose differentiated agroecological transition pathways for India. It identifies three complementary entry points: homestead-based agroecology as a low-risk platform for nutrition and women’s empowerment; rainfed agroecological intensification to enhance soil health, climate resilience, and livelihood diversification; and phased efficiency-led transitions in intensive irrigated systems to reduce environmental footprints while maintaining productivity. Together, these pathways support the scaling of nature-positive, climate-resilient, and nutritionally secure multifunctional landscapes aligned with national priorities and the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes agenda.