Lok Sabha Question No. 510 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-06
Subject: Confronting the challenge of Climate Change
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Kani K. Navas, S. Jagathrakshakan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 510

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06 TH  FEBRUARY, 2024

## CONFRONTING THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

## 510.   SHRI K. NAVASKANI:

SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN:

## Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  agrees  with  the  view  that  policymakers,  agri-scientists  and farmers must come together to confront the challenge of climate change;

(b) if so, the details of the initiatives that are proposed to be taken by the Government keeping in mind that adaptation actions are needed to respond to climate change as these actions help reduce vulnerabilities and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c)  whether  the  Government  agrees  with  the  view  that  Climate  Change  has  a  profound influence on crop health;

(d) if so, the details of the steps that are proposed to be taken by the Government keeping in view  the  fact  that  crop  health,  which  has  become  an  important  determinant  of  our  food security,  encompasses  the  wellbeing  of  each  and  every  component  associated  with  the production landscape, starting from water, soil, climate, crop and environment; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण मंत्री (SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a) & (b): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through National Innovations in Climate  Resilient  Agriculture  (NICRA)  project  brings  the  policymakers,  agri-scientists  and farmers together to confront the climate change challenge.

Government of India through National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), and its  three  major  components  viz.,  Rainfed  Area  Development  (RAD);  On  Farm  Water Management (OFWM); and Soil Health Management (SHM) responds to climate vulnerabilities. Climate risk and vulnerability assessment carried out in NICRA indicates that a total of 109 districts are very highly vulnerable and 201 districts are highly vulnerable to climate change. Adaptation efforts have been undertaken in very high and highly vulnerable districts.

(c) & (d): Yes, Sir. National Agricultural Research System under the aegis of ICAR has developed  2380  varieties  of  different  field  crops  of  which  1971  are  climate  resilient  with tolerance to one or more biotic and/or abiotic stresses. Among these 2380 field crop varieties, 429 are more resilient and are highly tolerant to the impact to global warming and erratic weather  conditions  and  therefore resistant, tolerant to drought, water  stress, flood, submergence condition, salinity condition, high temperature, cold, frost etc.

To  mitigate  weather  related  challenges  in  the  country,  the  Government  of  India implements the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). Four new programmes were introduced under the ambit of NMSA namely Soil Health Card (SHC), Parampragat Krishi  Vikas  Yojana (PKVY), Mission Organic Value Chain Development in North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) and Sub Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF). During 2015-16, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was operationalized.  All these programmes focus on soil, water, crop and environment to ensure food security and maintain sustainability.

Government  of  India  has  implemented  the  District  Agricultural  Contingency  Plan (DACP) prepared for 650 Districts of the country and recommends location specific climate resilient crops and varieties and management practices for use by farmers. These agricultural contingency plans cover weather aberrations like drought in rainfed areas (delay in monsoon onset, breaks in monsoon leading to early, mid and late-season droughts), drought in irrigated areas (delayed or limited release of water for irrigation), floods, unseasonal rains and extreme weather events such as heat wave, cold wave, frost, hailstorm, cyclone etc.

(e): Does not arise.

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