Lok Sabha Question No. 1191 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-09
Subject: Effect of Climate Change on Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Sudheer Gupta, Bidyut Baran Mahato

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1191

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 09/02/2021

## EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE

## 1191.  SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

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

- (a) whether  the  effects  of  climate  change  are  causing  direct  harm  not  only  to  human beings, but also to agricultural crops and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  made  an  estimation  of  the  likely  impact  of  climate change on agriculture and food security and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any expert body/committee has been appointed in advisory capacity or in any other  way  to  make  suggestions/recommendations  to  address  the  situation  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) whether  ICAR  study  shows  that  farming  in  20%  of  districts  of  the  country  is threatened by climate change and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether  the  ICAR  has  also  identified  that  of  the  28  million  hectares  under  wheat, about 9 million hectares are categorized as being prone to sudden heat stress and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the further steps taken/being taken by the Government to counter the said situation?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) Climate  change  is  perceptible  through  a  rise  in  all  India  mean  temperature  and increased  frequency  of  extreme  rainfall  events  in  the  last  three  decades.  This  causes fluctuation in production of major crops in different years.

(b) Yes,  impact  of  climate  change  on  Indian  agriculture  was  studied  under  National Innovations  in  Climate  Resilient  Agriculture  (NICRA).  Rainfed  rice  yields  in  India  are projected to reduce marginally (<2.5%) in 2050 and 2080 and  irrigated rice yields by 7% in 2050 and 10% in 2080 scenarios. Further, wheat yield projected to reduce by 6-25% in 2100 and   maize yields by 18-23%.  Future climates are likely to benefit chickpea with increase in productivity (23-54%).

(c) Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  initiated  a  network  project NICRA during 2011 to address the impact of climate change on Indian agriculture. NICRA project  is  being  reviewed  by  a  High  Level  Monitoring  Committee  (HLMC)  under  the Chairmanship  of  Secretary,  DARE  &  DG,  ICAR  with  invited  members  representing different  Ministries,  Government  of  India.  This  committee  recommends  measures  to  be taken  through  NICRA  for  making  Indian  agriculture  more  resilient  to  changing  climate. Besides an expert committee periodically review the project and advise on various aspects.

(d) Vulnerability  assessment  of  Indian  Agriculture  to  climate  change  is  undertaken  by Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR).  Such  an  assessment  was  for  573  rural districts  of  India  (excluding  the  Union  Territories  of  Andaman  and  Nicobar  Islands, Lakshadweep). Based on the vulnerability analysis, 109 districts  out  of  573  rural  districts (19% of total districts) are 'very high-risk' districts, while 201 districts are risk districts. The details are available at

## http://www.nicra-

icar.in/nicrarevised/images/publications/Risk%20&%20vulnerability%20assessment%20of %20Indian%20agriculture%20to%20climate%20change.pdf)

(e) Integrated simulation modelling studies indicated that under Representative Concentration Pathway  4.5, maximum temperature is expected to increase by 1 to 1.3 o C in 256 districts, by 1.3 to 1.6 o C in 157 districts (2020-2049).  The increase ranged from <1.3 o C in 199 districts to >1.6 o C in 89 districts. Cultivation of wheat in these districts is likely to be affected by heat stress.

(f) Under NICRA project, wheat germplasm comprising of advanced breeding lines and land  races  have  been  screened  for  heat/drought  tolerance.  ICAR-Indian  Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has released the high yielding varieties such as HD 2967 and HD 3086 which are being grown in large areas of North-west and North India. Zero till planting of wheat has advanced the wheat sowing in Punjab and Haryana.

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