Question : Impact of Climate Change

(a) whether an annual review by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has recently revealed that crops, plantations and livestock in around 150 districts or slightly more than one-fifth of the total districts in the country are susceptible to the impact of climate change;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the annual agricultural income of farmers may fall in the range of 15-18 per cent on average and upto 20-25 per cent in un-irrigated areas; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by ICAR to make use of better scientific methods for increasing productivity in the farm sector?

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI RADHA MOHAN SINGH)

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

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STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 15 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11/12/2018 REGARDING
“IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE”



(a) & (b): ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture established in 1985 has assessed relative vulnerability of agriculture to climate change for 572 rural districts of India during 2011 under National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) and revealed that 151 districts are highly vulnerable. Accordingly, climate resilient technologies are being demonstrated in those districts under NICRA to cope up with any extreme climatic aberrations.

(c) & (d): As per “Economic Survey 2018”, the climate change could reduce annual farm incomes in the range of 15-18 per cent on average and up to 20-25 per cent for unirrigated areas. In order to minimize the impact of climate variability, climate resilient technologies are being popularized through demonstrations. A number of climate resilient crop varieties have also been developed. In addition, institutional interventions like establishment of seed bank, fodder bank, custom hiring centres, commodity groups and introduction of climate literacy through setting up of village level automatic weather station have been made. The ICAR has also developed district agricultural contingency plans for 633 districts and providing real time agro-advisories to farmers to minimize risk.

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