**Executive Summary**
The ICAR-Borlaug Institute for South Asia jointly organized a workshop to review the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) program after 15 years of progress, and to launch the Atlas of Climate Adaptation in Indian Agriculture (ACASA-India). The event, held in New Delhi and inaugurated by Dr. M. L. Jat, focused on charting a data-driven roadmap for strengthening climate-resilient agri-food systems. A key goal is to strengthen NICRA's contributions to India's journey toward Viksit Bharat by 2047.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Workshop Purpose:**
* Synthesise 15 years of learnings from NICRA.
* Assess India's gains in climate resilience.
* Chart a convergent, data-driven roadmap for climate-resilient agri-food systems.
* **Key Launches & Initiatives:**
* Launch of the Atlas of Climate Adaptation in Indian Agriculture (ACASA-India), a web-enabled digital platform developed by ICAR-led NARES in collaboration with BISA-CIMMYT for location-specific, data-driven adaptation planning.
* Launch of key national knowledge platforms, including the Akasha Atlas and NICRA portals.
* **Strategic Direction:**
* NICRA is at a critical juncture requiring clear strategic direction and a long-term vision.
* India's experience presents a strong global narrative on science-led, policy-aligned solutions for securing agri-food systems under climate stress, positioning NICRA as a potential global model.
* **Focus Areas:**
* Prioritising robust and credible carbon credit methodologies for future climate action and investment.
* Deeper synthesis of data, learnings, and investments into a unified national climate action platform.
* **NICRA Progress:**
* NICRA is being implemented across more than 200 locations in 151 highly climate-vulnerable districts.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research)
* **Impact:** Enhanced role in coordinating and directing climate-resilient agricultural research and initiatives. Increased responsibility for achieving climate resilience goals and contributing to Viksit Bharat 2047.
* **Action Required:** Provide strategic direction, coordinate research efforts, and synthesise data and learnings for a unified national climate action platform.
**Stakeholder:** Agricultural Scientists and Researchers
* **Impact:** Opportunity to contribute to data-driven solutions for climate-resilient agriculture and to share learnings and best practices.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the synthesis of data, learnings, and investments for a unified national climate action platform.
**Stakeholder:** Farmers and Agricultural Communities (especially in rainfed regions)
* **Impact:** Potential for increased resilience to climate stresses, productivity gains, and improved livelihoods through the adoption of climate-resilient technologies and enabling policies.
* **Action Required:** Adopt climate-resilient technologies and practices to enhance their productivity and resilience.
**Stakeholder:** Policymakers
* **Impact:** Access to data and insights to inform policy decisions related to climate change and agriculture.
* **Action Required:** Use workshop outcomes to shape future agricultural and climate policies, prioritising robust carbon credit methodologies.
**Stakeholder:** Global Agricultural Community
* **Impact:** Access to India's experience and models for climate-resilient agriculture, particularly NICRA.
* **Action Required:** Learn from India's experience and potentially adopt NICRA as a model for climate-resilient agriculture in other countries.
Key Entities Referenced
National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA): A national program to enhance climate resilience in Indian agriculture. The workshop reviewed its progress.
Atlas of Climate Adaptation in Indian Agriculture (ACASA-India): A web-enabled digital platform for location-specific adaptation planning, launched during the event.
ICAR- Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA): Joint organizer of the NICRA Review and ACASA-India Launch Workshop
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry associated with the initiatives discussed.
New Delhi: Location where the workshop was inaugurated.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
ICAR– Borlaug Institute for South Asia Jointly
Organise NICRA Review and ACASA–India
Launch Workshop
NICRA Workshop Reviews 15 Years of Progress, Charts Data-
Driven Roadmap for Climate-Resilient Agri-Food Systems
On Basant Panchami, Dr. Jat Reflects on India’s Climate
Resilience and Launches Key Knowledge Portals
प्रव तथ: 23 JAN 2026 4:05PM by PIB Delhi
The Review Workshop of National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) and the
Launch-cum-Use Case Workshop of the Atlas of Climate Adaptation in Indian Agriculture (ACASA–
India), jointly organised by the ICAR and the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA), was inaugurated
today in New Delhi by Dr. M. L. Jat, Secretary(DARE) & Director General (ICAR).
The workshop aimed to synthesise 15 years of learnings from NICRA, assess India’s gains in climate
resilience, and chart a convergent, data-driven roadmap to strengthen climate-resilient agri-food systems
through integrated science, policy alignment, and targeted investments.Addressing the gathering, Dr. Jat stated that Basant Panchami, symbolising knowledge and renewal, was
an apt occasion to reflect on India’s climate resilience journey and to launch key national knowledge
platforms, including the Akasha Atlas and NICRA portals. Marking 15 years of NICRA, he said that the
programme stands at a critical juncture requiring clear strategic direction and a long-term vision. Despite
recurring climatic stresses, Indian agriculture particularly in rainfed regions has demonstrated notable
resilience and productivity gains, underscoring the effectiveness of climate-resilient technologies, enabling
policies, and institutional convergence.
He emphasised that India’s climate resilience is built on an integrated ecosystem of science, policy
support, technological innovation, safety nets, human capital, and coordinated implementation, with
initiatives such as NICRA, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and livestock and fisheries missions
collectively enhancing adaptive capacity and farmer livelihoods. Highlighting the way forward, Dr. Jat
called for deeper synthesis of data, learnings, and investments into a unified national climate action
platform, supported by a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach and a centralised data
ecosystem.Looking ahead, the DG (ICAR), reiterated that India’s experience presents a strong global narrative on
science-led, policy-aligned solutions for securing agri-food systems under climate stress, positioning
NICRA as a potential global model for climate-resilient agriculture.
On the occasion, he also formally launched the Atlas of Climate Adaptation in Indian Agriculture
(ACASA–India), a web-enabled digital platform developed by ICAR-led NARES in collaboration with
BISA–CIMMYT to support location-specific, data-driven adaptation planning.
Among other dignitaries present were Dr. A. K. Nayak, Deputy Director General (Natural Resource
Management), ICAR; Dr.Rajbir Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR; Dr. B.
Venkateshwarlu, Chairman, NICRA Expert Committee; Dr. V. K. Singh, Director, ICAR–Central Research
Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad; and Dr. P. K. Aggarwal, Regional Program Leader, BISA–
CIMMYT.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Rajbir Singh emphasised that the workshop serves as a critical platform for
advancing science at scale and for adopting a holistic approach to climate action. He underscored the need
to prioritise robust and credible carbon credit methodologies as a key focus area for future climate action
and investment.
Dr. A. K. Nayak highlighted that the workshop holds significant relevance for the global agricultural
community, as it brings together science, data, and practical insights essential for strengthening climate
resilience across international agri-food systems. He noted that the deliberations and outcomes of the
workshop would contribute meaningfully to global efforts in addressing climate challenges in agriculture.
The workshop also reviewed the progress of NICRA, which is being implemented across more than 200
locations in 151 highly climate-vulnerable districts across the country. Strengthening NICRA’s
contributions to climate-resilient agriculture, participants noted, is critical to India’s journey towards Viksit
Bharat by 2047. Deputy Directors General and senior officials from ICAR attended the inaugural
ceremony
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RC/PU
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इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: ही , Urdu