Climate Resilient Farming in India

General Studies Paper-3

Context: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare plans to unveil a framework to promote climate-resilient agriculture located in climatically-vulnerable districts in India.

About the Climate-Resilient Farming in India

• Climate change poses significant challenges to agriculture worldwide by affecting food production, crop yields, and overall agricultural sustainability.
• In India, where agriculture is a crucial sector supporting millions of livelihoods, building resilience against climate variability is essential.

Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture

• Vulnerability: Indian agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters. Extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and cyclones, disrupt crop cycles and lead to economic losses.
  • Between 1998 and 2017, disaster-hit countries experienced direct economic losses of approximately US$ 2908 billion, with 77% of these losses attributed to climate-related disasters.
• Temperature and Rainfall Patterns: India has witnessed an increase in temperatures by 0.6°C to 2.5°C between 1901 and 2018. These rising temperatures, coupled with shifts in monsoon patterns, directly impact crop productivity.
  • Seasonal changes significantly affect ecosystems and human livelihoods, making adaptation crucial.
• Projected Crop Yield Reduction: By 2100, productivity of most crops in India is projected to decrease by 10-40% due to increased temperatures, rainfall variability, and reduced irrigation water availability.
  • Major crops like rice, wheat, sorghum, barley, and maize are at risk.

Need for National Programme on Climate-Resilient Agriculture (NPCRA)

• It aims to enhance the resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change and vulnerability.
• Targeted Villages: The government plans to select 50,000 villages from 310 districts that have already been identified as climatically vulnerable. These districts span 27 states, with Uttar Pradesh having the highest number of districts (48), followed by Rajasthan (27).

Framework of NPCRA

• Promoting Resilient Crop Varieties: NPCRA aims to focus on promoting climate-resilient crop varieties.
  • The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed over 2,000 such varieties that can improve food production, which include both abiotic stress-tolerant and biotic stress-tolerant varieties.
• Water Conservation: Encouraging crops that are less water-intensive and implementing water conservation practices in the respective areas.
• Monitoring Fertiliser Inputs: Ensuring efficient use of fertilisers to minimise environmental impact.
• Duration and Funding: The program is expected to run for five years, with funding primarily coming from convergence with existing schemes.

Role of ICAR

• ICAR plays a pivotal role in climate-resilient agriculture. It has developed innovative technologies and practices to cope with abiotic stresses induced by climate variability. These efforts contribute to building resilience at both policy and farmer levels.

Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)

• It aims to address the challenges posed by climate change while ensuring sustainable food production.
• Increase Productivity and Incomes: CSA focuses on sustainable practices that enhance agricultural productivity and improve farmers’ livelihoods.
• Adaptation and Resilience: CSA helps farmers adapt to changing climate conditions by promoting resilient crop varieties, efficient water management, and soil health improvement.
• Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions: CSA aims to reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions associated with agriculture, contributing to climate change mitigation.
• Tolerant Breeds: Introducing drought-tolerant and early-maturing crop varieties can mitigate yield losses due to climate stress.
• Conservation Agricultural Practices: Practices like soil organic carbon building and manure management improve soil health and create a favourable environment for plant growth.

Related Other Government Initiatives

• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY): It aims to improve water-use efficiency in agriculture through efficient irrigation practices.
• Soil Health Card Scheme: It encourages farmers to adopt soil-friendly practices, enhancing soil fertility and resilience.
• Promotion of Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties: The government supports research and adoption of climate-resilient seeds.
• National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA): A network project by ICAR aims to enhance Indian agriculture’s resilience to climate change through research and technology demonstration.

Conclusion and Way Forward

• Achieving sustainable agriculture and food systems requires an integrated approach that addresses climate change challenges. Climate-smart practices, including millets and other coarse grains, can help withstand climate variability.

By promoting resilient crop varieties, conserving water, and adopting smart practices, we can mitigate the impact of climate change on our farms, and by adopting sustainable techniques, improving soil health, and promoting resilient crops, we can build a more resilient and productive agricultural sector.