Lok Sabha Question No. 1068 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: Climate Change
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Unmesh Bhaiyyasaheb Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1068 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2019

## Climate Change

## 1068.   SHRI UNMESH BHAIYYASAHEB PATIL:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government has conducted an impact assessment study related to Climate Change in agrarian societies of Maharashtra;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the findings of such study with reference to impact on agriculture based sectors;
- (d) the details of the recommendations made to mitigate the impact of climate change; and
- (e) the steps taken by the Government to ensure the implementation of such recommendations to protect agricultural sectors in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) to (c) As per the information received from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  conducted  studies  related  to  climate change  under  National  Innovations  in  Climate  Resilient  Agriculture  (NICRA)  project.  Under NICRA, studies are being conducted to develop heat and drought tolerant wheat, flood tolerant rice, drought tolerant pulses, water logging and high temperature tolerant tomato etc. Interventions viz. site specific rainwater harvesting structures in drought affected areas; recycling of harvested water through supplemental irrigation to alleviate moisture stress during mid-season dry spells; improved drainage in flood-prone areas; conservation tillage; artificial  groundwater recharge and water saving micro-irrigation methods; drought and flood tolerant varieties; timely planting;  community  nurseries  for  delayed  monsoon;  water  saving  paddy  cultivation  methods such as System of Rice Intensification, aerobic and direct seeding; green manuring; advancement of planting dates of rabi crops in areas with terminal heat stress; frost management in horticulture through  fumigation;  and  popularization  of  location-specific  and  risk-reducing  inter-cropping systems could mitigate the impact of climate change.

Further, The Energy Resource Institute (TERI) has conducted a scientific study entitled 'Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Strategies for Maharashtra: Maharashtra State Adaptation Action Plan on Climate Change (MSAAPC)' regarding impact of climate  change  and  its  mitigation  measures  including  sectors  like  Agriculture,  Coastal  areas, Forestry, Biodiversity, Health and Water resources.

(d)  to  (e)  The  Government  of  Maharashtra  has  embodied  climate  concerns  vide  Government Resolution number Baithak-2013/C.R.63/T.C.1 dated 25/10/2017.

Three  centres  of  All  India  Coordinated  Research  Project  on  Dryland  Agriculture (AICRPDA) in  Maharashtra  i.e.  Akola,  Parbhani  and  Solapur  have  developed  doable  rainfed technologies  for  the  domain  districts  of  Akola,  Buldana,  Washim,  Amaravati,  Yeotmal, Parbhani,  Nanded,  Jalna,  Aurangabad,  Latur,  Hingoli,  Solapur,  Ahmednagar,  Eastern  part  of Pune, Sangli, Satara, Dhule and Nandurbar. Four cooperating centres of AICRPAM located at Solapur, Parbhani, Akola and Dapoli are engaged in research, extension and training activities in the state of Maharashtra.

Extensive  farmer  participatory demonstrations  of  location-specific  climate  resilient technologies  were initiated  on  farmers'  fields  to  address  the  issues  related  to  heavy  rains  and floods and to enhance the adaptive capacity of communities, in the districts which are frequently prone  to  heavy  rains  and  floods  as  part  of  Technology  Demonstration  Component  (TDC)  of NICRA. The NICRA programme is operational in 8 locations in Maharashtra.

The  Government  of  India  is  implementing  National  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change (NAPCC) which comprises eight missions in specific areas including on sustainable agriculture. Thirty  three  States/Union  Territories  (UTs)  including  Maharashtra  have  prepared  their  State Action Plan on Climate Change in line with NAPCC taking into account State's/UT's specific issues relating to climate change.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) runs an operational Agrometeorological Advisory Service (AAS) viz., Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme for the benefit of farming community in the country. Under the scheme, medium range weather forecast at district level is generated and issued and based on the forecast, Agromet Advisories are being prepared and  communicated  by  the  130  Agromet  Field  Units  (AMFUs)  located  at  State  Agricultural Universities, institutes of ICAR and IIT etc. to the farmers on every Tuesday and Friday to take decision on day-to-day agricultural operations. AAS rendered by IMD is a step towards weatherbased  crop  and  livestock  management  strategies  and  operations  dedicated  to  enhancing  crop production and food security besides reducing crop damage and loss due to unusual weather.

Agromet Advisories are communicated to the farming community through multichannel dissemination system like print and electronic media, Doordarshan, radio, internet etc. including SMS  using  mobile  phones  through  Kisan  Portal  launched  by  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and Farmers'  Welfare  and  also  through  private  companies  under  Public  Private  Partnership  (PPP) mode.  At  present,  42  million  farmers  in  the  country  receive  the  Agromet  Advisories  through SMS directly. A mobile application named 'Meghdoot' has been launched by Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India to help the farmers to  get the weather information and related agromet advisories specific to their districts.  Further, to cope with weather aberrations on real time basis, District Agricultural Contingency Plans have been prepared for 650 districts of the country.

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