Background and Aims <p>Agricultural intensification, driven by the need to meet rising food demand, has often relied on conventional practices such as intensive tillage, monocropping, and residue removal. These practices have led to significant negative impacts, including reduced soil fertility, loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving sustainable food production for a growing global population requires innovative strategies that enhance productivity while minimizing environmental harm. Conservation agriculture (CA) has emerged as a promising solution to address these challenges. It also improves the resilience of cropping systems, particularly under moisture-limited conditions.</p> Methods <p>This review synthesizes recent advances in CA that have been shown to enhance soil structure, increase organic carbon content, improve water retention, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support biodiversity in agroecosystems.</p> Results <p>Evidence from a range of agroecological settings suggests that CA, particularly when integrated with precision water and nutrient management technologies, is highly effective. It leads to improved crop yields, increased water use efficiency, and enhanced carbon sequestration. The long-term adoption of CA is likely to offer greater benefits than their short-term implementation. The integration of CA with the breeding and deployment of drought resistant varieties offers synergistic benefits that foster cropping system resilience.</p> Conclusion <p>The successful implementation of CA hinges on its integration with modern technologies, farmer education, and context-specific strategies. Such an approach is vital for adapting to and mitigating the impacts of climate change, ensuring consistent and sustainable food production, and improving community livelihood in water-limited landscapes.</p>