Are We Future-Ready for Extreme Weather Calamities?

Horticulture, being deeply reliant on ecology, is under shock due to the current climatic anomalies; hence, climate resilience is more imperative than an option, which demands a strategic reconfiguration of production systems for long-term sustainability. The increasing population and land shrinkage resulting from industrialization and urbanization created challenges to food and nutritional security, underscoring the importance of climate-resilient horticulture (CRH) as a vital option. CRH encompasses key interventions, including crop improvement targeting resistance to both biotic and abiotic stress; controlled environment cultivation; smart irrigation and automation; drone use for input delivery; the application of decision support tools, satellite imagery, weather analytics, and warning systems; as well as precision management of inputs. Furthermore, to reduce postharvest damages, proper steps must be adopted, including efficient packaging and IoT (Internet of Things)-enabled cold storage automation, to ensure a steady income for farmers. Several agroecological steps are to be considered such as crop diversification, agroforestry, specialty crop cultivation, urban horticulture like rooftop, vertical, and terrace gardening, soilless cultivation, community or institutional gardens, edible landscapes, green walls, etc., which can contribute to landscape-level adaptations and carbon sequestration while aligning with various United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Policy support for climate-smart horticultural crop cultivation, along with its exposure to farmers, can ensure the sustainable growth of horticulture in the current era of climate change (CC). Now, the present situation warrants a paradigm shift, integrating innovative technologies, ecological stewardship, and earning consumer currencies for a future-ready horticulture that can flourish under the current scenario of adverse climatic conditions. The chapter focuses on climate-smart horticultural crop production, integrating all possible innovative technologies with future directions.