Question : ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER NICRA

(a) whether a study conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on climate change and global warming has indicated low production of maize, rice and wheat in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government has launched the National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) to address the impact of climate change on the agriculture sector;

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the achievements made thereunder; and

(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to extend its coverage across the country?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)

(a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 201 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12/03/2013 REGARDING “ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER NICRA”

(a) Yes, Madam.

(b) ICAR has conducted the climate change impact assessment studies using the crop simulation models. The reduction in crop yields has been projected for irrigated maize, wheat, irrigated and rainfed rice to the extent of 18, 6, 4 and 6 percent respectively in 2020.

(c) Yes, Madam.

(d) A network project on ‘National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture’ (NICRA) in February 2011 aiming at enhancing resilience of Indian agriculture through Strategic Research, Technology Demonstration, Capacity Building and Sponsored/Competitive Grant Projects was initiated. The research on adaptation and mitigation covers crops, livestock, fisheries and natural resource management.

Till date, 100 promising lines of rice, maize, pigeonpea and tomato have been identified for heat and drought tolerance. Over 20,000 accessions of wheat are being multiplied and screened for climate stress related traits. About 3000 accessions have been found tolerant to heat stress and another 5000 accessions found tolerant against rust, and these are being further evaluated. Improved practices like water harvesting, direct seeded rice, alternate wetting and drying, green manuring, deep placement of fertilizers and feed supplements for livestock have been demonstrated on farmers’ fields in 130 districts to cope up with various climatic aberrations. Contingent plans for 400 districts have been completed out of targeted 572 districts in the country. Automatic weather stations have been established in 100 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) located in vulnerable districts to improve the agro-advisory services to the farmers. Besides, 100 Village Climate Risk Management Committees (VCRMCs) and Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) are being established. A total of 34 training progrmames were conducted to train 1443 scientific personnel on climate resilient agriculture and more than 27,000 farmers were trained through 370 farmers’ awareness programmes.

(e) Currently, 62 centres across the country are undertaking projects under strategic research and sponsored/competitive grants component of NICRA in network mode. During XII Plan, 10 additional centres have been proposed. Similarly, technology demonstration for climate resilient agriculture is being implemented in 130 locations and 32 additional centres have been proposed in XII Plan.