Why in the News?

The Union government plans to unveil a framework to promote climate-resilient agriculture in 50,000 villages located in climatically-vulnerable districts.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• About Climate Resilient Agriculture (Basics, Features, Benefits, Challenges, etc.)
• ICAR’s Climate Smart Agriculture Program
• News Summary

About Climate Resilient Agriculture:

• Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) refers to farming practices and strategies designed to withstand and adapt to the changing climate.
• In India, where agriculture is a major part of the economy and livelihood for millions, CRA is essential to ensure food security, economic stability, and sustainable development.
• There are 11 National Missions as part of the Union Government’s National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture is one of them.

Key Components / Features of CRA:

• Diversified Cropping Systems:
  • Mixed Cropping: Growing multiple crops on the same land to reduce the risk of crop failure due to extreme weather.
  • Crop Rotation: Changing the type of crop grown in a particular field each season to improve soil health and reduce pests.
• Improved Water Management:
  • Rainwater Harvesting: Collecting and storing rainwater for use during dry periods.
  • Efficient Irrigation: Using methods like drip irrigation to minimize water wastage and ensure crops get the right amount of water.
• Soil Health Enhancement:
  • Organic Farming: Using natural fertilizers and pesticides to maintain soil fertility and health.
  • Conservation Tillage: Minimizing soil disturbance to maintain soil structure and reduce erosion.
• Adoption of Stress-Tolerant Crop Varieties:
  • Developing and planting crop varieties that can withstand drought, floods, and other climate extremes.
• Agroforestry:
  • Integrating trees and shrubs into farming systems to protect crops, enhance biodiversity, and improve soil and water quality.
• Weather and Climate Services:
  • Providing farmers with accurate weather forecasts and climate information to help them plan their activities better and reduce risks.
• Risk Management and Insurance:
  • Offering crop insurance schemes to protect farmers against losses due to extreme weather events.

Benefits of CRA:

• Increased Productivity: By using resilient practices, farmers can maintain or even increase their crop yields despite adverse weather conditions.
• Enhanced Livelihoods: Stable agricultural production ensures a consistent income for farmers and reduces poverty.
• Environmental Sustainability: CRA practices promote the sustainable use of natural resources, ensuring long-term agricultural productivity.
• Food Security: With reliable agricultural output, the availability of food is more secure, benefiting the entire population.

Challenges & Solutions:

• Awareness and Education: Educating farmers about CRA practices is crucial. Extension services and farmer training programs can bridge this gap.
• Access to Resources: Ensuring farmers have access to resilient crop varieties, efficient irrigation systems, and other necessary inputs.
• Policy Support: Government policies and programs that support CRA initiatives, provide subsidies, and facilitate research and development in climate-resilient technologies.

ICAR’s Climate Smart Agriculture Program:

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is running a research program called the "Consortium for Scaling-Up Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in South Asia (C-SUCSeS)." This program aims to:
  • Increase agricultural production and productivity in a sustainable way.
  • Improve food security, nutrition, and income in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region.
• The program also brings together agricultural research centers and extension agencies in the SAARC region to develop and share knowledge about climate-smart technologies and best practices.
• South Asian governments have agreed to explore the idea of a regional seed bank, regional testing and certification of seeds, and a framework for sharing plant genetic material and seeds.
• India collaborates with both SAARC and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). To help SAARC countries develop their skills, ICAR and SAARC organize regional training programs together.
• The government has committed to increasing investment, promoting research and development, facilitating technical cooperation, and applying innovative and reliable technologies in agriculture.
• These efforts aim to boost productivity and ensure food and nutritional security in the South Asian region.

Climate-resilient agriculture in 50,000 villages:

• The Union government plans to unveil a framework to promote climate-resilient agriculture in 50,000 villages located in climatically-vulnerable districts.
• Officials will select 50,000 villages from 310 districts that have already been identified as climatically-vulnerable. These 310 districts are spread across 27 states, with Uttar Pradesh accounting for the most districts (48), followed by Rajasthan (27).
• The initiative is part of a national programme on climate-resilient agriculture, which the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare plans to launch as part of a 100-day agenda.
• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has developed more than 2,000 such varieties for improving food production.