Lok Sabha Question No. 570 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-06
Subject: Climate Resilient Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: PREM DAS RAI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 570 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/02/2018

## CLIMATE RESILIENT AGRICULTURE

## 570. SHRI PREM DAS RAI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps being taken to promote climate-resilient agriculture;
- (b) whether  these steps include special measures  to address affected orchards and plantations  especially  in  the  Himalayan  States  that  have  an  adverse  impact  on  livelihood  of farmers; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h

## (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  launched a major  project ' National  Initiative  on  Climate  Resilient  Agriculture '  (NICRA)  during  XI  Plan  in  February 2011.  Currently  it  is  referred  as  ' National  Innovations  in  Climate  Resilient  Agriculture ' (NICRA).  This  programme  is  being  implemented  with  four  components  viz.  a)  Strategic research through network as well as sponsered/competitive grants, b) Technology demonstrations  on  farmers'  fields  to  cope  with  current  climate  variability  c)  Knowledge management d) Capacity building of different stakeholders.

Under  Technology  Demonstration  Component  (TDC),  context-  and  location-specific climate resilient practices and technologies are demonstrated in farmer participatory mode to address current climatic variability faced in a cluster of villages in each district. TDC is being implemented in 151 climatically vulnerable districts across the country. The climate vulnerabilities  addressed  are  drought,  flood,  cyclone,  heat  /  cold  wave,  frost  and  high temperature stress.

The  impact  of  demonstrations  on  agriculture  and  the  benefits  to  farmers  has  been documented in the report entitled ' Smart Practices and Technologies for Climate Resilient Agriculture ', which is accessible at http://www.nicra-icar.in/nicrarevised/images/ publications/ Smart%20practices%20&%20technologies.pdf

- (b) Yes, Madam.
- (c) Demonstration  of  climate  resilient  practices  in  relation  to  orchards  are  taken  up  in various climatically vulnerable districts in the Himalayan region as part of the TDC of NICRA. The details are given in Annexure-I .

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Demonstration of climate resilient practices in relation to orchards being taken up in various climatically vulnerable districts in the Himalayan region as part of the TDC under NICRA.

|   S. N. | District & State          | Description of resilient practices demonstrated                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|---------|---------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | Chamba, Himachal Pradesh  | Improved varieties of Apple, viz., Red Chief, Well Spur, Silver Spur, Red Spur, Golden Spur, Oregan Spur II, Starkrimson, Bright-n-Early, Tydeman's Early Worcester, Summer Queen, Vance Delicious were demonstrated in view of the reduction in chilling temperatures and also due to lower fruiting of the traditional apple cultivars like Royal Delicious. About 30 farmers were involved in the demonstration of improved cultivars of apple in the NICRA village of Chamba district. The performance of the improved varieties is encouraging and the area under improved cultivars is expanding. |
|       1 | Chamba, Himachal Pradesh  | Crop diversification from apple to apricot variety New Castle. Apricot is less sensitive to climate change as the fruiting of traditional apple cultivars is getting reduced due to reduction in the chilling hours in some of the Himachal districts.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|       1 | Chamba, Himachal Pradesh  | Marigold and cabbage intercropping in young apple orchards demonstrated to get additional income.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|       2 | Kullu, Himachal Pradesh   | Crop diversification from apple to pomegranate variety Kandhari Kabuli in view of the decline in apple yields due to reduction in the chilling hours. Pomegranate grows well in relatively hot and dry weather and require less water.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|       2 | Kullu, Himachal Pradesh   | In situ soil moisture conservation through black polythene mulching (50 micron) in pomegranate to escape prolonged dry spells during flowering (May) and fruit development (August-September) and to reduce flower drop and to increase fruit size and quality                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|       3 | Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh | Soil test based fertilizer application in apples and foliar application of nutrients. Significant improvement in the fruit yield is observed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|       3 | Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh | Honey bee pollinators for improved pollination in apples (Colonies of Apis mellifera ). Yield increase up to 20%. There is significant adoption of the technology.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|       3 | Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh | Demonstration of pruning and training to enhance quality fruit production and quality nursery production as a livelihood option which has contributed towards improvement in the yield and income to the farmers besides making available the quality planting material of apple locally.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|       3 | Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh | Increasing the cropping intensity in young apple orchards by intercropping with maize, rajmash and/or pea have significantly improved the income of farmers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|       4 | Phulwama Jammu & Kashmir  | Drip irrigation system in apple with the harvested water to increase irrigation water use efficiency and reduced weed problem and increased fruit yield.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|       4 | Phulwama Jammu & Kashmir  | Garlic intercropping in apple orchards to minimize the risk from fruit orchards and to enhance the returns under favourable climates.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|       4 | Phulwama Jammu & Kashmir  | Nutritional sprays like biozyme and solubor along with fungicidal sprays as per SKUAST-K recommendations to overcome nutrient deficiencies and enhance apple crop performance.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|       4 | Phulwama Jammu & Kashmir  | Crop diversification with grafted walnut variety                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|       5 | Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand   | Improved cultivars and management practices of fruit crops such as lemon, kinnow were demonstrated.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|       6 | Mon, Nagaland             | Fruit crop such as mango, jack fruit, guava, lime plantations were established for demonstration in the NICRA village for maximising income and diversification.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |

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