(a) whether the British Government has recently released any report on adverse impact of global warming on the agricultural production in the developing countries;
(b) if so, whether the Government has taken note of the said report;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the ICAR has also assessed the impact of global warming on the agriculture sector of the country;
(e) if so, the details thereof; and
(f) the remedial measures taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI HARISH RAWAT)
(a) to (c): The Stern Review Committee of British Government submitted a report in 2006 on “The Economics of Climate Changeâ€.This report indicated considerable loss in agricultural production in developing countries due to global warming. The report is not specific to Indian agriculture, as such.
(d) & (e): The ICAR launched a Network Project ‘Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability of Indian Agriculture to Climate Change’ in 2004 at 15 locations which was extended to 23 locations in XI Plan.The limited studies indicated an estimated loss of about 4-5 million tons in wheat production in the country with every rise of 1ºC temperature throughout its growing period. The milk production of crossbred cows is also projected to be affected with the rise in maximum and minimum temperatures above 2ºC.
(f) In January, 2011, ICAR initiated a new scheme ‘National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA)’ with an outlay of Rs.350.0 crores for the period 2010-12. The scheme aims at evolving cost effective adaptation and mitigation strategies against climate change through
(i) strategic research on natural resources, major food crops, livestock, marine and freshwater fisheries for adaptation and
mitigation;
(ii) demonstration of available climate resilient practices
on farmers’ fields in 100 most vulnerable districts of the country
(iii) strengthen research infrastructure and capacity building of scientists for undertaking long term research on climate change adaptation; and
(iv) sponsored research.
The salient features of the scheme include
(i) use of state of the art phenomics system for rapid screening of a large number of elite germplasm for multiple abiotic stress tolerance;
(ii) participatory testing of climate resilient practices; and
(iii) vulnerability assessment of the different production zones
including crops, natural resources and socio-economic component.