Lok Sabha Question No. 1911 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-12
Subject: Emission of Green House Gases from Crops
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Sunita Duggal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1911

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2021

## Emission of Green House Gases from Crops

## 1911.   SHRIMATI SUNITA DUGGAL:

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

- (a) whether the emission of green house gases from agriculture sector poses a threat to India's green transition goals;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of such crops which emit more green house gas during their cultivation;
- (d) whether the Government is planning to encourage farmers to shift to cultivation of other environment friendly crops and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps taken to ensure climate conducive agricultural transition in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c)   As per India's second Biennial Update Report (BUR) 2018,  the agriculture sector emitted 16% of total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in the country in 2014.  The main sources of emissions from agriculture sector are methane (74%) and Nitrous Oxide (26%). The methane emissions in the agriculture sector mainly occur due to livestock rearing (enteric fermentation  and  manure  management)  and  rice  cultivation.  Nitrous  Oxide  is  primarily emitted  due  to  the  application  of  fertilizers  to  the  agricultural  soils.  However,  India  has reduced the emissions intensity of its GDP by 21% over 2005 levels, thereby meeting its pre2020 voluntary emissions reductions target. It is also on track to meet its NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions) goals under the Paris Agreement.

(d) and (e) The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) is being implemented  since  2014-15.   NMSA  promotes  integrated  farming  systems,  value  addition and  farm  development  activities  for  sustainable  agriculture  through  a  series  of  adaptation measures. These include, inter alia,  (i) improved crop seeds (ii) livestock and fish cultures (iii)  water  use  efficiency  (iv)    pest  management  (v)  improved  farm  practices  (vi)  nutrient management (vii) agricultural insurance (viii) credit support (ix) markets and (x) access to information and livelihood diversification.

The National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project aims to enhance the  resilience  of  Indian  agriculture  to  climate  change  and  climate  vulnerability  through strategic research and technology. The Crop Diversification Programme is being implemented in the states of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh since 2013-14 to divert the area under water-intensive paddy to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, maize, and  cotton  and  to  agro-forestry  plantation. In  addition,  adoption  of  System  of  Rice

Intensification (SRI) in various regions has led to reduction in emission of greenhouse gases. Through NICRA project, shift from rice-rice to rice-pulse (green gram/ black gram) cropping system  is  promoted  in  eastern  India.  The  restructured  National  Bamboo  Mission  (NBM) operational  from  the  year  2018-19,  is    promoting  bamboo  plantations  in  farmer's  fields, homesteads, community lands, arable wastelands etc, to promote farmers income and build climate resilience.

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