Lok Sabha Question No. 4035 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Promoting the Climate Resilient Agriculture in Kerala
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  4035

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH  MARCH, 2026

## PROMOTING THE CLIMATE RESILIENT AGRICULTURE IN KERALA 4035. SMT. PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS' WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has assessed the impact of climate changes like shifting monsoon patterns on farmers and crop yields in Kerala especially in hilly districts like Wayanad, if so, the details thereof; (b)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  initiatives  to  promote  climate  resilient agriculture in Kerala, if so, the details thereof including the number of farmers targeted, area covered in hectares, funds allocated for each scheme especially in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency; (c) the details of the financial support provided to small and marginal farmers in Kerala for climate adaptation under Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization (KCRA) Project including total amount disbursed, number of beneficiaries and average assistance per farmer; (d) whether the Government has assessed if KCRA has improved price realisation and reduced climate risks for small and marginal farmers; and (e)  whether  any  assessment  of  climate  risks  specific  to  Kerala  such  as  shifting monsoons, floods, salinity was conducted and if so, the details of measures planned to mitigate these risks through agricultural practices?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI  BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a) & (b): The Government, through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) flagship network project National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), has conducted risk and vulnerability assessments for 651 predominantly agricultural districts using the protocol of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Based on the assessment, 109 districts were categorized as very highly vulnerable and 201 districts as  highly vulnerable to climate  change. In  Kerala, the  districts  of Kasaragod,  Kozhikode,  Ernakulam,  Kottayam,  Alappuzha,  Pathanamthitta,  Kollam and  Thiruvananthapuram  were  categorized  under  very  high  risk,  while  Kannur, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur were categorized under high risk. The project  is  currently  operational  in  one  village  cluster  each  in  Kannur,  Kottayam, Kozhikode,  Palakkad  and  Wayanad  districts  for  demonstration  and  adoption  of climate-resilient  technologies  through  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendra  (KVKs).  Major  climateresilient  practices  demonstrated include vermicomposting, husk burial and coir pith compost application in coconut, drum seeding and mat nursery in rice, short-duration paddy varieties, micro-irrigation in coffee, contour trenches in plantations, drainagecum-irrigation structures in paddy fields, desilting of irrigation canals, improvement of percolation  ponds,  integrated  fish  farming,  tilapia  culture  in  homestead  ponds, improved livestock and poultry shelters and millets as intercrops in coconut gardens. A total fund of ₹3,12,14,558 was allocated to Kerala under the NICRA Technology Demonstration Component during this period, of which ₹50,04,000 was allocated to Wayanad district.  During  2021-2026, 7,250  farmers participated  in demonstrations covering 2,477 hectares.

(c) & (d):  As reported by the State Government of Kerala, the Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization (KCRA) Project, with a project outlay of ₹2,365.50 crore, commenced on 02.02.2025. The project includes a comprehensive assessment on price realisation and the reduction of climate risks for small and marginal farmers. The project covers 3,00,000 farmers for adoption of climate-resilient technologies in 1,00,000 hectares and about 4,00,000 farmers for enhanced resilience of livelihoods.

(e):  Under  NICRA,  climate  risks  such  as  changing  monsoon  patterns,  floods  and salinity  were  assessed,  and  adaptive  measures  were  promoted.  Farmers  were advised on late transplantation, and after the 2018 Kerala floods, soil testing and Soil Health Cards were provided to affected farmers. Salinity-tolerant rice varieties have also been promoted in saline ecosystems such as the traditional Pokkali and Kaipad systems. During 2014-2025, 79 crop varieties were released and notified for the State of  Kerala,  including  several  climate-resilient  varieties  tolerant  to  drought/moisture stress, floods/submergence, heat stress and salinity, which support climate adaptation and enhance resilience of agricultural production systems.

*****