Lok Sabha Question No. 3466 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-17
Subject: Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Brijendra Singh Ola

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3466

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE

## 3466. SHRI BRIJENDRA SINGH OLA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the farmer's crops have been damaged due to cyclone Biparjoy, heatwaves and rising temperatures in the country;
- (b)  if so, the details of the assessment thereof, State-wise;
- (c)  whether there is continuous climate change in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  measures  to  tackle  the  situation  of  climate change and strengthen agriculture; and
- (e)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (b):   The data regarding damaged crops due to any disaster including cyclone and heatwaves is not maintained centrally. However, as per the information received from the State Government of Gujarat, 1,13,358 hectare of cropped area affected to the extent of 33% and above due to cyclone Biparjoy , 2023.

(c): India's Third National Communication submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2023 reported that India is experiencing a full range of climate change impacts.

(d) & (e):   The Government set up National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in 2008, which provide an overarching policy framework for climate action in the country. The NAPCC outlines a national strategy to enable the country to adapt to climate change and enhance  ecological  sustainability.  One  of  the  National  Missions  under  NAPCC  is  the National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture  (NMSA)  which  evolves  and  implements strategies to make agriculture more resilient to the changing climate.

The  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  has  launched  a  flagship network project namely National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA). The project conducts studies on the impact of climate change on agriculture including crops, livestock,  horticulture  and  fisheries  and  also  develops  and  promotes  climate  resilient technologies in agriculture for vulnerable areas of the country. The outputs of the project help  the  regions  prone  to  extreme  weather  conditions like  droughts, floods,  frost,  heat waves, etc. to cope with. During last 10 years (2014-2024), a total of 2593 varieties have been released by ICAR, out of these 2177 varieties have been found tolerant to one or more biotic and/or abiotic stresses. Risk and vulnerability assessment of agriculture to climate  change has been carried out at district-level for  651  predominantly agricultural districts as per Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) protocols. Out of 310 districts identified as vulnerable, 109 districts have been categorized as 'very high' and 201  districts  as  'highly  vulnerable.  District  Agriculture  Contingency  Plans  (DACPs)  for these  651  districts  have  also  been  prepared  to  address  weather  aberrations  and recommending  location  specific  climate  resilient  crops  and  varieties  and  management practices for use by the State Departments of Agriculture. For enhancing the resilience and adaptive capacity of farmers to climate variability, the Concept of "Climate Resilient Villages"  (CRVs)  has  been  initiated  under  NICRA.  Location-specific  climate  resilient technologies have been demonstrated in 448 CRVs of 151 climatically vulnerable districts covering 28 states/UTs for adoption by farmers. ICAR through its NICRA project, creates awareness about impact of climate change in agriculture among farmers.

Capacity  building  programmes  are  being  conducted  to  educate  the  farmers  on various aspects of climate change for wider adoption of climate resilient technologies.  Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme improves water use efficiency through Micro Irrigation technologies i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. Rainfed Area Development (RAD) scheme  focuses  on  Integrated  Farming  System  (IFS)  for  enhancing  productivity  and minimizing risks associated with climatic variability. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Agroforestry & National Bamboo Mission also aim to increase climate resilience in agriculture. Further, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) along with weather index based Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) provide a comprehensive insurance cover against failure of the crop to farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out of unforeseen natural calamities.

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