Lok Sabha Question No. 1164 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. M P Abdussamad Samadani

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1164

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  JULY, 2024

## IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE

1164. M P ABDUSSAMAD SAMADANI:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  impact  of  climate  change  and  irregular rainfall patterns on agriculture and other sectors in the State of Kerala; (b) if  so,  the  details  and  the  measures  taken  to  support  the  farmers  and  agricultural activities affected by climate change related issues; and whether the Government have any plan to address this issue by coordinating with or  international  organizations  to  develop  strategies  for  climate
- (c) research  institutions resilience and sustainable agriculture in the State of Kerala?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): ICAR  through  flagship  network  project  'National  Innovations  in  Climate Resilient Agriculture' (NICRA) conducted risk and vulnerability assessment to assess the impact of climate change and irregular rainfall patterns on agriculture including Kerala. As per  Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate  Change  (IPCC)  protocol,  risk  and  vulnerability assessment has been performed for 651 predominantly agriculture districts. A total of 109 districts  are  categorized  as  very  high  and  201  districts  as  highly  vulnerable.  In  Kerala, Kasaragod,  Kozhikode,  Ernakulam,  Kottayam,  Alappuzha,  Pathanamthitta,  Kollam  and Thiruvanathapuram districts were categorized under 'very high' risk category and Kannur, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur districts were categorized under 'high' risk category. Of these, five districts viz., Kannur, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Palakkad and Wayanad one village from each of these districts were selected for technology adoption. The climate resilient technologies demonstrated in these districts include , vermicomposting, husk burial and application of coir pith compost in coconut basin, composting of aquatic weeds using effective microorganisms solution that enhance carbon sequestration, mat nursery and drum seeding  in  rice,  varieties  suitable  for  rainy  and  summer  fallows,  modified  rain  shelter, pseudostem support system for banana, adopting : integrated practices for soil moisture conservation, acidity correction and nutrient management in coconut farming, sustainable integrated fish farming and improved goat shelters.

The  Government  is  implementing  National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture (NMSA) to support the farmers and agricultural activities affected by climate change. The NMSA is one of the Missions within the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) which aims to evolve and implement strategies to make Indian agriculture more resilient to the changing climate. Under NMSA the Per Drop More Crop aims to improve on-farm water use  efficiency,  enhance  the  adoption  of  precision  irrigation  and  other  water  saving technologies 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. National Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Agroforestry & 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 salient 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.

Under NICRA project, ICAR- Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Cochin also conducted studies on estimation of carbon footprint of marine fisheries in Indian coastal states, use of artificial intelligence (drones) for mapping of blue carbon systems, developing new  climate  resilient  technologies  such  as  Integrated  Mangrove  Aquaculture Farming System (IMAFS) and Aqua-silviculture and assessment of climate change risk and vulnerability  of  coastal  districts  (76)  was  conducted  considering  5  significant  hazards  for vulnerability (Cyclone Proneness, Flood Proneness, Shoreline change, Sea Level Rise and Heatwave) and developed a multi-hazards index. ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode has taken up study to identify the climate analogues sites so that crop cultivation can be taken up in those regions to maintain the production and productivity of the crop.

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