Lok Sabha Question No. 1815 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Smart Agro-Food Systems and Sustainable Production Practices
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske, Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS' WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS' WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1815

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  February, 2026

## SMART AGRO-FOOD SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION PRACTICES

1815. Smt. Bharti Pardhi: Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske: Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde: Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne:

Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  identified  key  agronomic  priorities  such  as  climate-
- resilient, carbon-neutral and regenerative agriculture, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (b)  the  major  components  of  smart  agro-food  systems  and  sustainable  production practices therein; (c) whether the Government proposes to integrate existing schemes like NMSA, PMKSY, Soil Health Card, Digital Agriculture Mission and Natural Farming with these agronomic priorities, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; (d)  the  steps  being  taken  to  strengthen  research,  innovation  and  capacity-building  of
- scientists, students and farmers based on the identified issues; and
- (e) whether these agronomic focus areas are expected to guide future agricultural policymaking, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons for the same?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI  RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): Government has identified key agronomic priorities including climate-resilient, carbon-neutral and regenerative agriculture to address the challenges of climate change, resource degradation and sustainable food security. Several schemes have been initiated under  National  Mission  for  Sustainable  Agriculture,  to  promote  sustainable  agriculture practices. Per Drop More Crop  scheme increases water use efficiency at the farm level through  micro  irrigation  technologies  i.e.  drip  and  sprinkler  irrigation.  Rainfed  Area Development  focuses  on  Integrated  Farming  System  for  enhancing  productivity  and minimizing  risks  associated  with  climatic  variability.  The  Soil  Health  &  Fertility  scheme promotes integrated nutrient  management through judicious use of chemical fertilizers. Mission  for  Integrated  Development  of  Horticulture,  Agroforestry  &  National  Bamboo Mission also promote climate resilience. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana along with weather index based Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme provides a comprehensive insurance cover against crop failure to farmers suffering crop loss/damage due to natural calamities.

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is implementing a project- National Innovations  in  Climate  Resilient Agriculture  (NICRA)  that studies  the  impact  of climate change on agriculture, conducts district level risk & vulnerability assessment due to climate change. Under NICRA, 310 districts were identified as climatically vulnerable out of which 109 districts have been categorized as 'very high' and 201 districts as 'highly' vulnerable. For enhancing the resilience and adaptive capacity of farmers, location-specific climate resilient technologies (such as system of rice intensification, aerobic rice, direct seeding of rice, zero till wheat sowing etc) have been demonstrated under the project through Krishi Vigyan Kendras in 151 districts covering 448 Climate Resilient Villages.  Capacity building for village level seed banks and community nurseries is undertaken under NICRA to enable availability  of  seed. Drought  and flood  tolerant climate-resilient  varieties  of  rice,  wheat, soybean,  mustard,  chickpea,  sorghum,  gram,  and  foxtail  millet  were  demonstrated  in several NICRA villages.  Besides, training programmes are conducted under Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) on various issues of agricultural practices. ICAR has released 2900 varieties during last 10 years (2014-2024) of which 2661 varieties are tolerant to one or more biotic and/or abiotic stresses. (c):  Government is progressively aligning and converging existing agricultural schemes with broader agronomic priorities, including digital transformation, soil health, water use efficiency, organic/natural farming and other sustainable farming practices. Such merger will  ensure  a  more  integrated  and  outcome-oriented  approach,  improve  convergence, reduce duplication of efforts, optimize resource utilization, and strengthen implementation efficiency. and allied sectors including those related to climate-resilient and regenerative agriculture.

(d)  &  (e):  Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  has  established  731  KVKs  with  the mandate of technology assessment, demonstration and capacity development. The KVKs organize capacity-building programmes for the farmers on new technologies of agriculture Government is aligning agricultural  policies  with  identified  agronomic  priorities  such  as climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable and regenerative farming practices, soil and water conservation, resource-use efficiency, diversification of cropping systems, and reduction of environmental footprints.

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