Paving the Way for a Sustainable Farming Future

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has launched a groundbreaking initiative called the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA). This flagship network project aims to understand the effects of climate change on various agricultural sectors, including crops, livestock, horticulture, and fisheries. NICRA’s goal is to develop and promote climate-resilient technologies that will help regions vulnerable to extreme weather conditions such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves. These technologies aim to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture, ensuring a stable and sustainable food supply. Discover how the government is addressing climate change’s effects on agriculture through ICAR’s National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture initiative, aiming to secure a sustainable farming for farmers.

Key Achievements for Sustainable Farming:

• Development of Climate-Resilient Crop Varieties: Over the past decade (2014-2024), ICAR has released 2,593 new crop varieties, with 2,177 exhibiting tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. These varieties are crucial for maintaining agricultural productivity in the face of climate challenges.
• Risk and Vulnerability Assessment: ICAR has conducted comprehensive risk assessments for 651 agricultural districts in India, identifying 109 as ‘very high’ and 201 as ‘highly’ vulnerable to climate change impacts, as per Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) protocols.
• District Agriculture Contingency Plans (DACPs): ICAR has developed DACPs for all 651 districts to address weather aberrations such as droughts, floods, and extreme weather events. These plans recommend specific climate-resilient crops and management practices tailored to each district’s needs.
• Climate Resilient Villages (CRVs): The concept of CRVs has been introduced to enhance farmers’ resilience and adaptive capacity to climate variability. ICAR has demonstrated location-specific climate-resilient technologies in 448 CRVs across 151 vulnerable districts, encouraging farmers to adopt these innovations.

48 CRVs across 151 districts in 28 states

ICAR is actively raising awareness about the impact of climate change on agriculture. Through capacity-building programs, farmers are being educated on climate change and encouraged to adopt climate-resilient technologies. The Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) Technology is being implemented in 448 CRVs across 151 districts in 28 states and Union Territories.

In addition to NICRA, the government has initiated efforts to combat climate change through the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), a part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). NMSA focuses on making Indian agriculture more resilient through components like Rainfed Area Development (RAD), On-Farm Water Management (OFWM), and Soil Health Management (SHM). Recent additions to this mission include programs like the Soil Health Card (SHC), Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), and the National Bamboo Mission (NBM).

International Collaborations

The government is also collaborating with international organizations to share knowledge and best practices in climate-resilient agriculture. This includes partnerships with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). Such collaborations aim to enhance research and innovation in climate-smart agriculture, providing Indian farmers with cutting-edge tools and techniques to cope with changing climate patterns.

These initiatives were highlighted by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector in India.

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