Question : Impact of Climate Change on Indian Agriculture and Food Security

(a) whether the Government has made an estimation of the likely impact of climate change on Indian agriculture and food security, if so, the details thereof;

(b) the progress made under the National Mission on Sustainable agriculture and the initiatives being taken by the Government to promote climate resilient crop varieties;

(c) whether the Government is taking any initiatives for encouraging Indian farmers to adopt low carbon agriculture techniques, if so, the details thereof;

(d) the details of insurance payouts and financial assistance made to the farmers for crop loss due to climate change from 2014 to 2017, State-wise; and

(e) whether any expert body/ committee has been appointed in advisory capacity or in any other way to make suggestions or recommendations to address the situation, if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. Climate change is expected to impact the yield of agriculture crops in India as in other parts of the globe as well. However, in some of the regions, increase in yields is also predicted due to increase in rainfall. Adaptation and mitigation techniques have been developed by Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) and agriculture universities to minimize the adverse impacts. It is emphasised that several locations specific technologies have been developed, due to which, the country could produce the highest food grain (284.83MT) in addition to more than 305.42 MT of horticultural production in 2017-18.

The Government is implementing number of schemes for promoting climate resilient agriculture to cope with the challenges of climate change. 10 key dimensions for adaptation namely, improved crop seeds livestock and fish culture, water use efficiency, pest management, improved farm practices, improved nutrient management; agricultural insurance, credit support, markets, access to information and livelihood diversification are emphasized.

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The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), one of the eight Missions under National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC), includes programmatic interventions like Soil Health Card (SHC), Paramparagat Krishi VikasYojana (PKVY), Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER),Rainfed Area Development (RAD), National Bamboo Mission (NBM) and Sub-mission on Agro Forestry (SMAF). These and other programmes including Prime Minister Krishi SinchaiYojana (PMKSY) are ensuring judicious use of natural resources.

During XII Plan (2012-2018), more than 400 climate resilient germplasm lines have been identified and 58 genotypes characterised with high water and nutrient use efficiency. 20.44 lakh ha area has been brought under organic farming, 249.57 lakh ha area under horticulture, 32.43 lakh ha under precision irrigation and 7.81 lakh ha under System of Rice Intensification (SRI), 25.18 lakh milch animals were covered under ration balancing programme and five bypass protein feed making units (50 MT/day capacity) were set up between 2012-2018. ICAR has developed 45 models for climate resilient Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) which are replicated in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for demonstration. Climate resilient villages have been developed, one in each of 151 districts. Climate Vulnerability Atlas has been prepared under National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA). Assistance is provided under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) for inter alia stress tolerant/ climate resilient varieties of food grains.

(c): Soil and crop management practices advocated to reduce carbon emissions are:.

i) Increasing the area under System of Rice Intensification (SRI) as an alternative to transplanted paddy.
ii) Planting of trees under National Food Security Mission, Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI),Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) and National Bamboo Mission (NBM).
iii) Promotion of water use efficiency through micro irrigation under Pradhan Mantri Krishi SinchaiYojana (PMKSY)- Per Drop More Crop.
iv) Development of zero tillage drill machines and other residue management equipment which facilitate planting of rabi crop in the standing residues of rice crop to avoid burning of rice residues.
v) Mandatory Neem coating of urea
vi) Alternate wetting and drying, direct seeded rice system of rice cultivation, use of slow release nitrogen fertilizers, integrated nutrient management practices, leaf colour chart-based nitrogen application, use of urea super granules etc

(d): The State wise details of assistance given for crop loss from 2014 to 2017 as per guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is placed at Annexure-I

(e): The various committees set up by Government for providing strategic direction and monitoring of programs aimed at mitigation and adaption to effects of climate change on agriculture include:

i) Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change (PMCCC) chaired by Hon’ble Prime Minister.

ii) Executive Committee on Climate Change (ECCC) chaired by Principal Secretary to Prime Minister

iii) National Advisory Committee for NMSA chaired by Secretary Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare. Similar State and District level committees are formed which have representation from different Departments as well as experts from State Agriculture Universities and ICAR Institutes.

iv) At the national level the Central Research Institute for Dry land Agriculture (CRIDA-ICAR), Hyderabad is the think tank for climate change issues in agriculture.