Lok Sabha Question No. 3935 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: National Climate Fund
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Sasikanth Senthil

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3935

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  MARCH, 2025

## NATIONAL CLIMATE FUND

## 3935.  SHRI SASIKANTH SENTHIL:

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

- (a) whether the Government acknowledges the impact of climate change on food productivity and the associated risks to  long-term  food  security,  if  so,  the  details  of  the  impact  of  climate change on Indian farmers and food production;
- (b) whether  the  Government  is  considering  the  constitution  of  National  Climate  Fund  for Agriculture to support the adoption of climate-resilient technologies and practices, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  details  of  measures  that  are  taken  to  leverage  on-farm  investments  to  enhance agricultural resilience to climate change?

## ANSWER

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

- (a): Yes, climate change is known to impact food productivity and the associated risks to longterm food security. To address the impact of climate change on agriculture, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is implementing a project, National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture  (NICRA).  District  level  risk  &  vulnerability  assessment  has  been  carried  out  for predominantly  agriculture  districts  using  intergovernmental  panel  and  climate  change  (IIPCC) protocol. 109 districts are categorized as very high and 201 as highly vulnerable NICRA conducts studies on climate change on agriculture & develops and promotes climate resilient technologies.
- (b): There is no such proposal to constitute National Climate Fund for Agriculture in the Ministry.
- (c): To support the adoption of climate-resilient technologies and practices, several schemes have  been  initiated under  National Mission on  Sustainable Agriculture  (NMSA)  by  the Government. Per Drop More Crop scheme increases water use efficiency at the farm level through Micro Irrigation technologies i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. Rainfed Area Development (RAD) focuses on Integrated Farming System for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variability. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Agroforestry & National Bamboo Mission also promote climate resilience in agriculture.

The Government is advancing agricultural productivity through a broad range of centrally supported initiatives such as developing infrastructure, enhancing crop and horticultural practices, and ensuring seed quality.  To improve storage  facilities,  the  Government  is implementing  the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) scheme, which provides assistance for the construction or renovation  of  godowns and  warehouses  in  rural  areas.  AIF  facilitates medium- and  long-term loans from banks and other lending institutions for farm-gate and aggregation point projects.

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