Latest news with #NICRA
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Climate change likely to reduce rainfed rice yields by 20% during 2050s and 10-47% during 2080s: Centre reply in Rajya Sabha
The climate change especially irregular rainfall patterns and high temperature is likely to affect the productivity of crops significantly in future, said the union ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare in a reply to a query in Rajya Sabha during the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament, Friday. Responding to a query if the government is aware of how climate change can impact agricultural productivity, Bhagirath Choudhary, the minister of state for agriculture, replied that a study has been conducted to assess the impact of climate change on productivity of crops. 'Yes, the Government implements ICAR flagship network project 'National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture' (NICRA) to study the impact of climate change on agriculture including crops, livestock, horticulture and fisheries. Study revealed that in the absence of adaptation measures, climate change is likely to reduce rainfed rice yields by 20% during 2050's and 10-47% during 2080's. Irrigated rice yields projected to be reduced by 3.5% during 2050's and 5% during 2080's. Wheat yield is also likely to be reduced by 19.3% during 2050's and 40% during 2080's. Kharif maize yields projected to be reduced by 10-19% during 2050's and >20% during 2080's,' said the minister. 'Climate change especially irregular rainfall patterns and high temperatures is likely to affect the productivity of horticultural crops. For example, 36.6% yield loss in onion occurs by continuous six days water logging, high temperature stress of >40°C during flowering stage in tomato causes 65% yield loss, 1.5-2 degree rise in winter temperatures leads to shifting of apple cultivation from low to high altitudes and results in 30% yield reduction. Similarly, increasing temperature due to climate change is likely to impact livestock production and animal health resulting into a decline in productivity in terms of milk, meat, wool and draught power. Further, a rise in temperature just by 1°C would cause a profound impact on survival and geographical distribution of different fresh water and marine fish species. Brackish water aquaculture is moderately vulnerable to seasonal variations (20-40% loss) and highly vulnerable to extreme weather events (EWEs) like a flood, heavy rains and cyclones (50 to 100% loss),' the minister said. On the steps that are being taken to make farmers aware of climate-resilient agricultural technologies, the minister further said: 'The Government has undertaken steps to develop and out-scale climate-resilient agricultural technologies through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW). The Government has developed various climate-resilient agricultural technologies viz. promotion of climate resilient varieties [2661 tolerant varieties (cereals 1258; oilseeds 368; pulses 410; fibre crops 358; forage crops 157, sugarcane 88 and other crops 22) developed, since 2014], resilient cropping systems, conservation agriculture, crop diversification, agroforestry systems, zero till drill sowing, alternate methods of rice cultivation, green manuring, integrated nutrient and pest management, organic farming, site specific nutrient management, in-situ moisture conservation, supplementary irrigation, micro-irrigation, sub-surface drainage and soil amendments. These technologies are demonstrated in 151 districts through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).' 'To help farmers in building resilience against extreme weather events and ensure long-term agricultural sustainability in the country, the Government of India implements National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) through DA&FW, which is one of the Missions within the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPC),' he added.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
House panel expresses concern over 30% staff gaps in Krishi Vigyan Kendras
A parliamentary committee on agriculture has expressed concerns over the 30 per cent staff shortage in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), which is 'affecting their core functions'. KVKs are the frontline of agriculture extension and are run by a plethora of organisations, starting from state agriculture universities (SAUs) to even social organisations and state governments. Recently, the Union agriculture ministry along with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other associations undertook a fortnight-long campaign to understand and address farmers' issues and their concerns. The over 730 KVKs across the country were at the forefront of the campaign. In its report on 'Promotion of Climate Resilient Agriculture, and Natural & Organic Farming through KVKs', which was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the Parliamentary Committee on Estimates said that the agriculture ministry's decision to increase staff strength from 16 to 20 per KVK is a welcome step but it will be ineffective without prompt recruitment. The panel said that the ministry should urgently address disparities in service conditions across KVKs by revising the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for non-ICAR KVKs — especially those hosted by SAUs and other organisations — to align their service conditions and benefits with those of ICAR KVK employees. It also said that the agriculture ministry needs to chalk out a robust and consistent funding strategy with long-term vision for the development of KVKs. The committee said while the proposed one-time grant of ₹2,500 crore may provide some immediate relief, it cannot serve as a substitute for predictable annual funding, reflecting the evolving needs of KVKs. The report also said that the current level of financial support of ₹31,500-46,500 per hectare over three years is grossly inadequate for farmers to transition towards organic farming due to low yields and economic strain. It batted for increased direct benefit transfer (DBT) for organic farming and also for continued support for a longer period of time. The report said that due to budget constraints, only 151 out of 310 districts, which are highly and very highly vulnerable to climate change, have been selected for National Innovations in Climate Resistant Agriculture (NICRA) adaptation activities. While acknowledging the importance of natural farming (NF) as a chemical-free, sustainable practice promoted under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), the House panel underscored the need for a standardised yet adaptable protocol, and recommended expanding NF beyond the Ganga corridor to ecologically sensitive and degraded regions.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Parliamentary panel flags 30% staff shortage in Krishi Vigyan Kendras
The panel said 30 per cent staff shortage in KVKs is hurting core functions and called for higher per hectare support and longer assistance for organic farming under DBT New Delhi A parliamentary committee on agriculture has expressed serious concerns over a 30 per cent staff shortage in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), which, according to the panel, is affecting their core functions. KVKs are the front-line institutions for agricultural extension and are run by a variety of organisations, including state agriculture universities, social organisations, and state governments. Recently, the Union Ministry of Agriculture, along with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other associations, conducted a fortnight-long campaign to understand and address farmers' issues and concerns. Over 730 KVKs across the country were at the forefront of the campaign. The parliamentary panel on the promotion of climate-resilient agriculture and natural and organic farming through KVKs, in its report tabled in the Lok Sabha, said the agriculture ministry's plan to increase the sanctioned staff strength in each KVK from 16 to 20 is a welcome step, but would be ineffective without prompt recruitment. It recommended that the ministry urgently address disparities in service conditions across KVKs by revising the memorandum of understanding for non-ICAR KVKs, especially those hosted by state agriculture universities (SAUs) and other organisations, to align service conditions and benefits with those of ICAR KVK employees. The panel also urged the agriculture ministry to establish a robust and consistent funding strategy with a long-term vision for KVK development. It said that while the proposed one-time grant of ₹2,500 crore may offer immediate relief, it cannot substitute for predictable annual funding increases that reflect the evolving needs of KVKs. The report further stated that the current level of financial support of ₹31,500–46,500 per hectare over three years is grossly inadequate for farmers transitioning to organic farming, owing to low yields and financial strain. The panel recommended increasing the direct benefit transfer for organic farming and extending the duration of such support. It noted that due to budget constraints, only 151 of the 310 districts identified as highly and very highly vulnerable to climate change have been selected for adaptation activities under the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) programme. On natural farming, the panel acknowledged its importance as a chemical-free, sustainable practice promoted under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). It underscored the need for a standardised yet adaptable protocol and recommended expanding natural farming beyond the Ganga corridor to ecologically sensitive and degraded regions.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Farmers' body warns of climate change impact on agriculture, urges Andhra Pradesh government to take action
Vijayawada: Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) expressed serious concern about growing climate adversaries resulting in serious losses to the farmers. The national-level farmers body appealed govts to adopt farmer-first, tech-driven solutions to tackle gaps. The FAIFA urged the govt there should be targeted subsidies for renewable energy, organic inputs, and micro-irrigation to make climate-smart practices more accessible to small and marginal farmers. It lauded the success of ICAR's flagship programme-National Innovations for Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), which has reached nearly 6.93 lakh farmers through technology demonstrations and has trained 6.47 lakh stakeholders via 23,613 capacity-building programmes on climate resilient agriculture. FAIFA unveiled the report titled "Nourishing the Future: A Report on Climate-Resilient Agriculture" to mark the world environment day on Thursday. The report said that about 448 climate resilient villages have been established, and 650 district-level agricultural contingency plans have been developed as part of its interventions. The report's focus is in line with the latest developments initiated by the Centre to boost agriculture. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Some of the key efforts include the launch of the digital agriculture mission, the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the National Mission on Natural Farming. Addressing a seminar organized by FAIFA, delegates including policymakers, agricultural scientists, and MPs expressed concern over projections by the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA), which estimate a potential 6% to 25% reduction in wheat yields and a 3% to 15% decline in rice yields by 2050. The FAIFA report also highlights a study by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) that warns of 10% to 30% fall in rain-fed crop yields across semi-arid regions. The report underscores that climate change, no longer a distant threat but a present and accelerating crisis for Indian agriculture, is beefing up its siege through erratic rainfall, unseasonal droughts, temperature spikes, and rising incidence of pests and diseases disrupting crop cycles. These weather events have severely impacted productivity, inflated input costs, and choked farmer incomes — compounding their distress. Small and marginal farmers, who form over 80% of India's agrarian community, are the worst affected due to limited adaptive capacity. Murali Babu, general secretary, FAIFA, said that the tangible impacts of climate variability on farming are becoming increasingly evident in states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. Soil degradation, rising input costs, and falling water tables are putting significant pressure on farm productivity and incomes, particularly for small and marginal farmers. However, initiatives like ICAR's NICRA programme are encouraging, which has introduced practical climate-resilient solutions, such as solar-powered irrigation, drought-tolerant seed varieties, and capacity-building at the grassroots. These are already making a difference in many regions. Ather Matheen, vice-president, FAIFA said that sustainable agriculture must be viewed as a core economic strategy for Indian farmers and not just be seen as an environmental or regulatory concern. He said that climate-resilient models offer long-term financial benefits by lowering input costs, opening new markets, and reducing weather-related disruptions.
Hans India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Farmer Associations' Report Highlights Climate-Resilient Tech that has Empowered Lakhs of Farmers
Calls for farmer-first, tech-driven solutions to tackle gaps in adoption despite government push Showcases NICRA's impact to empower farmers through 23,000 capacity-building programmes Urges targeted subsidies for renewable energy, organic inputs, and micro-irrigation to make climate-smart practices more accessible to small and marginal farmers On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA), a non-profit uplifting the cause of millions of farmers and farm workers involved in commercial crop cultivation in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, organised a national seminar on the theme 'Supplementing Farmer Income through Sustainable Farming Practices' at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi. The seminar outlined a sustainable approach to leverage proven climate-resilient technologies to empower farmers. During the seminar, FAIFA also unveiled a white paper titled 'Nourishing the Future: A Report on Climate-Resilient Agriculture'. The report lauded the success of ICAR's flagship NICRA initiative, which has reached nearly 6.93 lakh farmers as of February 2025, through technology demonstrations and has trained 6.47 lakh stakeholders via 23,613 capacity-building programmes on climate resilient agriculture. As part of its interventions, 448 Climate Resilient Villages have been established, and 650 district-level agricultural contingency plans have been developed. The report's focus is in line with the latest developments initiated by the Government of India to boost agriculture. Some of the key efforts include the launch of the Digital Agriculture Mission, the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the National Mission on Natural Farming. Delegates in the seminar, including policymakers, agricultural scientists, and Members of Parliament, expressed concern over projections by the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA), which estimate a potential 6–25% reduction in wheat yields and a 3–15% decline in rice yields by 2050. The FAIFA report also highlights a study by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) that warns of 10–30% fall in rain-fed crop yields across semi-arid regions. Erratic Climate Conditions – A Threat to Agriculture The report underscores that climate change, no longer a distant threat but a present and accelerating crisis for Indian agriculture, is beefing up its siege through erratic rainfall, unseasonal droughts, temperature spikes, and rising incidence of pests and diseases disrupting crop cycles. These weather events have severely impacted productivity, inflated input costs, and choked farmer incomes — compounding their distress. Small and marginal farmers, who form over 80% of India's agrarian community, are the worst affected due to limited adaptive capacity. But schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), which provides insurance cover for weather-beaten crop losses, and initiatives under the Per Drop More Crop component that scale micro-irrigation are alleviating farmer distress. Additionally, the Soil Health Card scheme and the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) have supported balanced nutrient management and organic farming. Though a robust policy foundation is in place, the report identifies several gaps in implementation. High initial costs, fragmented infrastructure, and low farmer awareness continue to block widespread adoption of climate-resilient technologies. FAIFA recommends an integrated remedy: scaling research and extension services, expanding digital agri-platforms, and incentivizing sustainable practices. Mr. Murali Babu, General Secretary, Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA), said, 'In states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, tangible impacts of climate variability on farming are becoming increasingly evident. Soil degradation, rising input costs, and falling water tables are putting significant pressure on farm productivity and incomes, particularly for small and marginal farmers. However, initiatives like ICAR's NICRA programme are encouraging, which has introduced practical climate-resilient solutions, such as solar-powered irrigation, drought-tolerant seed varieties, and capacity-building at the grassroots. These are already making a difference in many regions. This report is a constructive call to deepen our commitment to sustainable agriculture. We must transition from a 'grow more' approach to a 'grow better' mindset—one that embraces innovation, environmental stewardship, and economic viability for the farming community.' Innovation on the Ground: Success Stories from the Field The report features examples of climate-smart agriculture practices that are already providing greener outcomes: · Precision farming using IoT, sensors, and mobile-based advisories helps farmers monitor soil moisture, optimise inputs, and pre-empt crop stress. · Regenerative agriculture, including crop rotation, green manuring, and cover cropping, is enhancing long-term soil health. · Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is reducing fertiliser dependency while maintaining yield levels. · NICRA's flood - and drought-tolerant crop varieties are emerging as adaptive lifelines for climate-vulnerable farmers. Such sustainable soil conservation practices also contribute to carbon sequestration, as they act as mitigation pathways aligned with India's broader climate goals. Ather Matheen, Vice-President, Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA), said, 'Sustainable agriculture must be viewed as a core economic strategy for Indian farmers and not just be seen as an environmental or regulatory concern. Climate-resilient models offer long-term financial benefits by lowering input costs, opening new markets, and reducing weather-related disruptions. Initiatives such as the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund can drive long-term income growth for farmers while advancing sustainability across the agricultural value chain. We also see transformative potential in platforms like e-NAM, which are beginning to streamline market access and improve price discovery through digital trade. As these tools evolve and scale, they will play a crucial role in integrating farmers more effectively into national and global value chains.' FAIFA's Reform Roadmap: Building Resilience Through Policy and Practice To address systemic challenges, the report puts forward suggestions for an effective roadmap: · Increase public investment in R&D for climate-resilient seed varieties and cropping systems · Widen farmer training programmes through participatory models and grassroots extension services · Promote ICT-based tools for precision agriculture and timely farmer advisories · Strengthen market access for sustainable produce by linking incentives with adoption · Provide targeted subsidies for renewable energy, micro-irrigation, and organic inputs · Mainstream conservation agriculture, agroforestry, and integrated farming systems into national and state programmes Climate-Resilient Agriculture is the Way Forward The report makes a fervent appeal to policymakers, research institutions, and private stakeholders to collaborate in scaling climate-smart agriculture. By infusing modern science into traditional knowledge, strengthening grassroots capacity, and aligning economic incentives, the sector can be bolstered to become resilient to climactic extremes and ensure a sustainable future for itself. As India works towards the twin imperatives of ensuring food security and combatting climate change, FAIFA's report offers a timely and actionable roadmap. FAIFA concludes that with strong institutional backing, increased investment, and a farmer-first implementation model, India can pave the way for an agri-economy that is both productive and climate-resilient.
