What’s in Today’s Article?

• Background (Context of the Article, About FAO)
• Key Highlights of the FAO’s Report (Key Findings, NITI Aayog’s Response, etc.)

Background:

• A recent report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) highlights how climate change disproportionately affects poorer farmers in India.
• Titled “The Unjust Climate: Measuring the Impacts of Climate Change on Rural Poor, Women, and Youth,” the report reveals the vulnerabilities faced by marginalized farming communities due to climate-induced stresses such as heat stress, floods, and droughts.

About Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO):

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger, improve nutrition, and ensure food security.
• Its primary mission is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, and better the lives of rural populations by promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
• Established in 1945, FAO's headquarters is located in Rome, Italy.
• Key Objectives of FAO:
  • Eradicating Hunger and Food Insecurity:
    • FAO works towards achieving a world free of hunger, ensuring that everyone has access to safe and nutritious food.
  • Sustainable Agriculture:
    • The organization promotes the adoption of sustainable agricultural methods to increase productivity while preserving natural resources like soil, water, and biodiversity.
  • Improving Rural Livelihoods:
    • FAO supports smallholder farmers, rural communities, and women by providing tools, knowledge, and access to markets to improve their economic opportunities.
  • Tackling Climate Change:
    • The FAO is actively involved in addressing the impacts of climate change on food systems and advocating for climate-resilient farming practices.

Key Highlights of the Report:

• The FAO, recently, presented the report “The unjust climate. Measuring the impacts of climate change on rural poor, women, and youth” at an event in New Delhi.
• Key Findings of the Report:
  • Income Disparities:
    • The report finds that poor households globally lose 5% of their income annually due to heat stress and 4.4% due to floods, compared to wealthier households.
    • In India, rural poor households are particularly vulnerable because their income sources are more reliant on climate-sensitive agriculture.
  • Structural Inequalities:
    • According to the report, the vulnerability of poor farmers is deeply rooted in structural inequalities.
    • Households exposed to climate stressors experience a more significant reduction in total income compared to those unaffected.
    • Poor farmers dedicate more resources to sustaining agricultural production during adverse events, leading to reduced opportunities for off-farm employment.
  • Impact of Heat Stress and Floods:
    • The report states that climate change widens the income gap between poor and non-poor households globally.
    • Floods increase this gap by approximately $21 billion per year, while heat stress contributes to a gap of over $20 billion.
    • In India, rising temperatures increase the dependency of poor households on farming, while off-farm incomes decrease by 33%.
  • Policy Recommendations:
    • The FAO report suggests expanding social security nets for vulnerable communities.
    • Anticipatory social protection programs, which provide livelihood support ahead of extreme weather events, can help reduce poverty and reliance on harmful coping strategies.
    • The report also recommends addressing gendered barriers in employment, promoting workforce diversification, and providing mentorship programs to help rural communities participate in the modern workforce.
    • The report emphasizes the need to empower women and youth in rural areas to help combat the effects of climate change.
    • Gender-transformative approaches are necessary to challenge discriminatory social norms and enable women to make economic decisions that directly affect their lives.
    • The report suggests mentorship programs and initiatives to strengthen socio-emotional skills, allowing women and youth to better participate in the workforce and adapt to modern employment needs.

NITI Aayog’s Response:

• Responding to the report, a member of NITI Aayog, said that India has been actively addressing the challenges posed by climate change. Key initiatives include:
• National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA):
  • This project was implemented to help Indian farmers adapt to extreme weather conditions.
  • NICRA offers solutions for various crops, ensuring that farmers are equipped to handle adverse climatic events.
• Employment Guarantee Schemes and Social Safety Nets:
  • India was the first country to implement an employment guarantee scheme (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) to provide economic security to its population.
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government distributed free food grains (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana) to two-thirds of the population, demonstrating its commitment to addressing both climate-related and economic challenges.
• Increasing Women’s Participation:
  • Recent data from the Periodic Labour Force Surveys (PLFS) shows a significant increase in women’s participation in the workforce, indicating progress toward gender equality in employment opportunities.