(a) whether the climate change is likely to affect foodgrains production and food security in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) whether the Government has urged the agricultural scientists to conduct a study on the effect of climate change on the country`s agriculture; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to safeguard Indian agriculture from the vagaries of climate change?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SHARAD PAWAR)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.248
DUE FOR REPLY ON 21-07-2009.
(a) to (d): The 4th assessment report (2007) of Intergovernmental panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) projected that the global food production potential could increase with
increase in global average temperature upto three degrees, but above this could decrease
the production of food grains. The modeling studies of Indian Council of Agriculture
Research (ICAR) also predicted the likelihood of adverse affect of increase in
temperature on production and productivity of food grains especially rice and wheat.
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) initiated a Network Project
on ‘Impact, Adaption and Vulnerability of Indian Agriculture to Climate Change’ at
different ICAR Institutes/State Agricultural Universities during X Plan period. The
Project aimed to study the impact of climate change on land & water resources, crops
livestock and fisheries etc. Central Rice Research Instaitute (CRRI), Cuttack and
Directorate of Rice Research (DRR), Hyderabad have been conducting Intensive studies
on affects of Climate Change including increase in temperature, carbon dioxide and
other gases on production of rice and other crops. National Wheat Programme of
Directorate of Wheat Research, Karnal has been conducting research on development
of high temperature tolerant wheat genotypes particularly for late sown conditions.
Superior genotypes possessing high temperature tolerance have been identified and
are being used in breeding programme for high temperature environments. Wheat
varieties such as WH730, HD2808, RAJ3765, NW-2036,NW-1014, HW2045, HD-2643, K-8962
that are heat tolerant and DBW 14, a thermo tolerant genotype are developed by ICAR.
Ministry of Earth Sciences also launched a project “Integrated Agro met Advisory
Services in the Country†from April 2007 for issuing district level weather forecast and
agromet advisories to the farmers.
Furthermore, the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was released by
the Prime Minister on 30th June, 2008 outlining a strategy to meet the challenges of
Climate Change.
Under National Food Security Mission farmers are trained through Farmers Field
Schools for adoption of improved seed and better cultural practices for increasing the
production of food grains.