Lok Sabha Question No. 1163 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Climate Change Induced Drought
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. K Sudhakar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1163

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  JULY, 2024

## CLIMATE CHANGE INDUCED DROUGHT

1163. DR. K SUDHAKAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष और ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has observed that threat due to climate change is imminent and farmers are most vulnerable to it and if so, the details of the steps taken to prevent the

same;

- (b) whether the Government has any study report on the climate change induced drought affecting farmers of Chikkaballapur and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the steps taken to ensure that today's agricultural produce is preserved for tomorrow's generation?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): Indian  agriculture is  vulnerable  to climate change.  One  or other part  of  the country is experiencing extreme weather events impacting agriculture. Change in rainfall distribution is influencing agriculture through increased frequency of extreme weather events viz., drought and flood. Considering the imminent threat of climate change, several schemes have been initiated by the Government of India to deal with the adverse climate situations in the agriculture sector across the country. The rainfed area development program under National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) aims to make rainfed agriculture more productive, sustainable, remunerative and climate resilient. The sub-mission on Agroforestry aims to increase tree cover to stabilize farmland ecosystems. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) aims to improve on-farm water use efficiency, enhance the adoption of precision irrigation and other water saving technologies (Per Drop More Crop) and  enhance  recharge  of  aquifers.  The  Pradhan  Mantri  Fasal  Bhima  Yojana  (PMFBY) provides full insured amount on crop losses due to natural calamities. In addition, programs like Paramparagat Krishi VikasYojana (PKVY) aims to improvement agriculture biodiversity as well as soil health. The scheme Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati Programme (BPKP) aims  to  promote  traditional  indigenous  practices  and  to  create  awareness  of  farmers. Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture,  Agroforestry  and  National  Bamboo Mission also aim to increase climate resilience.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare,  Government  of  India  has  launched  a  flagship  network  project  namely National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA). The project aims to study the impact of climate change on agriculture including crops, livestock, horticulture and fisheries and to develop and promote climate resilient technologies in agriculture which will address vulnerable areas of the country and the outputs of the project help the districts and regions prone to extreme weather conditions like droughts, floods, frost, heat waves, etc. to cope with such extremes. The major achievements of ICAR are as follows:

-  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 is carried out at district-level  for  651  predominantly  agricultural  districts  as  per  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) protocols. A total of 109 districts are categorized as 'very high' and 201 districts as 'highly' vulnerable.
-  District  Agriculture  Contingency  Plans  (DACPs)  for  these  651  districts  have  been prepared for weather aberrations like drought, floods, unseasonal rains and extreme weather  events  such  as  heat  wave,  cold  wave,  frost,  hailstorm,  cyclone  etc.  and recommending location specific climate resilient crops and varieties and management practices for use by the State departments of agriculture and farmers.
-  Enhancing  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  demonstrated  in  448  CRVs  of  151 climatically vulnerable districts for adoption by the 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. The  Climate  Resilient Agriculture  (CRA)  Technology  is implemented in 448 CRVs across 151 districts of 28 states/UTs.

As per the report of the State Government, Chikkaballapura district in Karnataka is known to be affected by climate change. As per the study conducted, the pre-monsoon showers  (April  -  May)  are  increasing  and  rains  during  early  Kharif  is  decreasing.  The projected rainfall by 2035 in the district is expected to rise by 20-25%, however its distribution both spatially and temporally will be altered. The crop water requirement is increasing for different crops due to increased temperature and declining groundwater in the district.