Question : Greenhouse Effects and Global Warming

(a) whether the Government has taken measures to work in collaboration with other Ministries to mitigate the greenhouse effects and global warming;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether it is a fact that organic agriculture contributes to mitigating the greenhouse effects and global warming through its ability to sequester carbon in the soil and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether it is also true that a number of studies revealed that soil’s organic carbon contents under organic farming are considerably higher and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) and (b) The Government of India is implementing the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), launched in 2008. NAPCC encompasses eight core missions in the specific areas of Solar Energy, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitat, Water, Sustaining the Himalayan Eco-system, Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change, Green India, and Sustainable Agriculture, which are anchored by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy; Bureau of Energy Efficiency (Ministry of Power), Ministry of Urban Development and Housing Affairs, Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare respectively. NAPCC outlines steps to simultaneously advance India’s development and climate change related-objectives of adaptation and mitigation. The concerned Ministries are responsible for implementation of actionable priorities for their respective missions.

(c) Studies conducted at Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad (CRIDA), and National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) at Hyderabad and Cuttack, show higher carbon sequestration in soils due to organic nutrient management / farming.

(d) Field trials at ICAR institutes at CRIDA, Hyderabad, NRRI, Cuttack, and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Delhi show that organic nutrient management / farming results in higher soil organic carbon contents compared to inorganic fertilizer use. Studies at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad showed that soil organic carbon levels were higher (0.65%) under organic farming compared to inorganic management (0.50%).
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