Lok Sabha Question No. 4900 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Impact of Climate Change on Desert Livelihoods
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Ummeda Ram Beniwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4900

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## Impact of Climate Change on Desert Livelihoods

## 4900. SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether studies have been conducted on climate change impacts on desert livelihoods, and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether rising temperatures and erratic rainfall affect pastoral and agrarian communities;
- (c) if so, the details of adaptation measures are incorporated in climate action plans; and
- (d)  whether  targeted  support  is  proposed  for  climate-vulnerable  districts  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE

CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (d) Climate change is a cross-cutting issue spanning various Ministries/ Departments and institutions under them. Sectoral aspects of climate change are studied by different Ministries/Departments across sectors such as agriculture, water resources, human health, power, renewable energy, transport, urban issues/development, etc.

As per  India's Third  National  Communication  (TNC)  submitted  to  the  United  Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2023, India is experiencing a full range of climate change impacts, ranging from floods and droughts to heatwaves. The impacts of climate change are observed in various sectors, including agriculture and water resources.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is implementing a project, National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), which studies the impact of climate change on agriculture, conducts district-level risk and vulnerability assessment of agriculture to future climate change, and integrates simulation modelling to estimate future climate change projections. Under the project, risk and vulnerability assessment of agriculture to climate change has been carried out at the district level for 651 predominantly agricultural districts as per Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) protocols. 310 districts were identified as vulnerable, out of which 109 districts have been categorised as 'very high' and 201 districts as 'highly' vulnerable. For  enhancing  the  resilience  and  adaptive  capacity  of  farmers  to  climate  variability,  locationspecific climate resilient technologies such as system of rice intensification, aerobic rice, direct seeding of rice, zero till wheat sowing, cultivation of climate resilient varieties tolerant to extreme weather conditions such as drought and heat; in-situ incorporation of rice residues etc. have been demonstrated under the project through Krishi Vigyan Kendras in 448 Climate Resilient Villages of  151  climatically  vulnerable  districts  covering  28  States  /  Union  Territories  for  adoption  by farmers. Capacity building for establishing village-level seed banks and community nurseries is being undertaken under the project to ensure the availability of seeds in the adopted villages.

The  Government  has  implemented  several  initiatives  to  reduce  dependence  on  rainfed agriculture, enhance irrigation infrastructure, promote sustainable water management practices, and develop climate-resilient agricultural systems to mitigate the impacts of irregular monsoons, particularly  in  regions  vulnerable  to  them.  The  National  Adaptation  Fund  for  Climate  Change (NAFCC), established in 2015-16, aims to support concrete adaptation activities that mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.

Further, the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) developed by the States and UTs identify measures to adapt to climate change vulnerability, including in the agriculture sector, implemented through various schemes, with the objective of enhancing climate resilience and promoting water-efficient cropping patterns.

As a Party to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), India has prepared a National Action Plan to Combat Desertification, 2023, in line with the country's commitments to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030. The plan emphasises the convergence of the various schemes for restoring degraded land. The Government is implementing various  schemes/programs,  including,  inter  alia,  the  Green  India  Mission,  the  Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PMKSY), Nagar Van Yojana, Compensatory Afforestation under CAMPA funds, and the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) to implement various projects and activities which have a positive impact on reducing desertification across the country.

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