Lok Sabha Question No. 3023 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-08
Subject: Climate Resilient Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ratansinh Magansinh Rathod, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Devji Mansingram Patel

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3023

TO BE ANSWERED ON 8 th  AUGUST, 2023

## CLIMATE RESILIENT FARMING

3023.  SHRI RATANSINH MAGANSINH RATHOD: SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL: SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is promoting the Climate Resilient Farming;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to train the farmers for such scheme;
- (d) whether such scheme is being implemented in the State of Gujarat and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the Government preparation to deal with the conditions arising out of climate change and strengthening of agriculture sector?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (d): The  Government  is  taking  several  steps  to  promote  climate  resilient farming in the country including Gujarat State. National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was launched by the Government in 2008 which provides an overarching policy framework for climate action in the country. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) being implemented by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is one of the Missions within the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The Mission aims to evolve and implement strategies to make Indian agriculture more resilient to the changing climate. NMSA was approved for three major components i.e. Rainfed Area Development (RAD); On Farm Water Management (OFWM); and Soil Health  Management (SHM). Subsequently, new programmes  such as namely Soil Health  Card  (SHC),  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY),  Mission  Organic

Value Chain Development in North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), Per Drop More Crop, National Bamboo Mission (NBM) etc. were also included.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has launched a flagship network project 'National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture' (NICRA) with an aim to develop and promote climate resilient technologies in agriculture which will address vulnerable areas of the country. ICAR prepared District Agriculture Contingency Plans (DACPs)  for  650  districts  of  the  country  recommending  location  specific  climate resilient  crops  and  varieties  and  management  practices  for  use  by  the  state departments  of  agriculture  and  farmers.  Climate  resilient  agriculture  practices  are being adopted by communities and spreading beyond NICRA villages. In the past ten years 16,958 training programs were conducted throughout the country under NICRA project to educate stakeholders on various aspects of climate change and resilient technologies,  covering  5,14,816  stakeholders  so  as  to  enable  wider  adoption  of climate resilient technologies and increase in yields. The salient achievements of ICAR on climate resilient agriculture include the following;

-  In total, 1888 climate resilient crop varieties including 891 of cereals, 319 of oilseeds, 338 of pulses, 103 of forage crops, 182 of fibre crops, 45 of sugar crops, and 10 of other crops have been developed.
-  Participatory technology development of climate resilient practices has been undertaken involving farmers in risk assessment, demonstration and adaptation techniques in 151 clusters covering 454 villages, with a footprint of 2.13 lakh households, on 2.36 lakh hectares of land.
-  68 climate resilient technologies have been demonstrated in 454 villages on 15857 farmers' fields during 2014-23.
-  88  biocontrol  agents,  31  biopesticides  and  41  Biofertilizers  have  been documented  and  circulated. Also DACPs  for  650  Districts  have  been developed.

(e): To deal with the conditions arising out of climate change and strengthening of agriculture sector, farmers are being protected from abnormal weather conditions by providing weather  advisories. ICAR  in  collaboration with India Meteorological Department (IMD) issues Agromet advisories twice a week (Tuesday and Friday) to around 6 crore farmers of the country through Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva program. A mobile App viz., 'Meghdoot' has been launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, to  help  farmers to  obtain  weather  information  including  alerts  and  related Agromet advisories specific to their Districts.

To  protect  the  farmers  from  climate  hazards,  Government has  introduced flagship yield based Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) along with weather index based Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) from Kharif  2016.   The  scheme  aims  at  supporting sustainable  production  in  agriculture sector by way of providing financial support to farmers suffering crop loss/damage arising out of unforeseen natural calamities, adverse weather incidence and to help in stabilize the income of farmers to ensure their continuance in farming.  Comprehensive risk insurance to farmers is provided against unpreventable natural calamities such as drought, dry-spells, flood, hailstorm, inundation etc. under the scheme for entire crop cycle including pre-sowing to post-harvest losses. Since inception of the scheme in 2016-17 to 2022-23, 4,846 lakh famer applications have been enrolled over an area of 3,497 lakh ha. for a sum insured of Rs. 14,45,978  crore. Claims of Rs. 1,40,599 crore have already been paid to 1,457 lakh farmer applications which includes partial claims for Kharif-22 also (As on 30-06-2023).

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