Effect of Climate Change on Indian Agriculture

Image Credit; Rama Rao C. A. et al., “Atlas on Vulnerability of Indian Agriculture to Climate Change”, Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, 2013.

 Effect of Climate Change on  Indian Agriculture

Climate change is perceptible through a rise in all India mean temperature and increased frequency of extreme rainfall events in the last three decades. This causes fluctuation in production of major crops in different years.

The impact of climate change on Indian agriculture was studied under National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA).

Rainfed rice yields in India are projected to reduce marginally (<2.5%) in 2050 and 2080 and irrigated rice yields by 7% in 2050 and 10% in 2080 scenarios. Further, wheat yield projected to reduce by 6-25% in 2100 and   maize yields by 18-23%.  Future climates are likely to benefit chickpea with increase in productivity (23-54%).

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has initiated a network project NICRA during 2011 to address the impact of climate change on Indian agriculture. NICRA project is being reviewed by a High-Level Monitoring Committee (HLMC) under the Chairmanship of Secretary, DARE & DG, ICAR with invited members representing different Ministries, Government of India. This committee recommends measures to be taken through NICRA for making Indian agriculture more resilient to changing climate. Besides an expert committee periodically review the project and advise on various aspects.

Vulnerability assessment of Indian Agriculture to climate change is undertaken by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). Such an assessment was for 573 rural districts of India (excluding the Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep). Based on the vulnerability analysis, 109 districts out of 573 rural districts (19% of total districts) are ‘very high-risk’ districts, while 201 districts are risk districts. The details are available at 

http://www.nicra-icar.in/nicrarevised/images/publications/Risk%20&%20vulnerability%20assessment%20of%20Indian%20agriculture%20to%20climate%20change.pdf)

 Integrated simulation modeling studies indicated that under Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5, the maximum temperature is expected to increase by 1 to 1.3oC in 256 districts, by 1.3 to 1.6 oC in 157 districts (2020-2049).  The increase ranged from <1.3 oC in 199 districts to >1.6 oC in 89 districts. The cultivation of wheat in these districts is likely to be affected by heat stress.

Under NICRA project, wheat germplasm comprising of advanced breeding lines and landraces have been screened for heat/drought tolerance. ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has released high-yielding varieties such as HD 2967 and HD 3086 which are being grown in large areas of North-west and North India. Zero till planting of wheat has advanced the wheat sowing in Punjab and Haryana.

This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in Lok Sabha today.