Lok Sabha Question No. 1156 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Crop Losses due to Extreme Climate
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1156

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH  JULY, 2024

## CROP LOSSES DUE TO EXTREME CLIMATE

1156. SMT. KANIMOZHI KARUNANIDHI:

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

- (a) the details regarding the agricultural crop losses both in value and volume faced due to extreme climatic events throughout the country during the last five years; Statewise
- (b) the details regarding the agricultural crop losses faced in the State of Tamil Nadu especially in Thoothukkudi District due to climate change; and
- (c) the details regarding the measures taken to develop climate-resilient agriculture in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): There is no record available regarding the agricultural crop losses both in value and volume faced due to extreme climatic events for the country. However, as per the report of the State Government of Tamil Nadu, during the past five years, about 33% of crop loss is observed in an area of 17,68,976.24 ha. for which the value of  SDRF  amount  disbursed  was  Rs.  2500.02  cr.  Further,  during  the  North  East Monsoon season 2023, the Southern Districts experienced unprecedented rainfall on 17th  and  18th  December  2023.  As  per  IMD  reports,  on  18th  December  2023, Kayalpattinam Village in Thoothukkudi district received 95 cm rainfall in a single day. Due to heavy rainfall and breaching of water bodies, inundation persisted for more than 5 days and caused about 33% crop loss in an area of 1,07,320.59 Ha. An amount of Rs.97.60 Cr was released as SDRF Relief assistance to the affected farmers.

(c) : Several measures have been taken to make agriculture climate resilient in the country through National  Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. 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. 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  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.

To address the impact of climate change, the National Agricultural Research System (NRSA) under the aegis of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India has released a total of 2593 varieties during last 10 years (2014-2024), 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 National Innovations in Climate  Resilient Agriculture (NICRA).  Location-specific  climate resilient  technologies  has  been  demonstrated  in  448  CRVs  of  151  climatically vulnerable districts for  adoption by the  farmers. Capacity  building programmes are being conducted to educate the farmers on various aspects of climate change for wider adoption of climate resilient technologies.

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