Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare addresses climate resilience in agriculture through initiatives like the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project. This project assesses climate change vulnerability at the district level, promotes climate-resilient technologies, and supports farmers through seed programs and irrigation schemes. District-level disaster mitigation plans are integrated with farming needs, and farmers are educated on climate-smart agriculture practices.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Climate Change Impact Assessment:**
* NICRA studies the impact of climate change on agriculture (crops, livestock, horticulture, and fisheries).
* Risk and vulnerability assessment was conducted in 651 agricultural districts, identifying 310 as vulnerable (109 very high, 201 highly vulnerable).
* **Climate Resilient Technologies and Varieties:**
* 2900 varieties have been released in the last 10 years (2014-2024), with 2661 tolerant to biotic/abiotic stresses.
* Climate Resilient Villages (CRVs) initiated under NICRA with location-specific technologies demonstrated in 448 CRVs across 151 vulnerable districts in 28 states/UTs.
* Demonstrated technologies include system of rice intensification, aerobic rice, direct seeding of rice, zero till wheat sowing, and cultivation of climate-resilient varieties.
* **Seed Programs:**
* The Sub Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials (SMSP) promotes the production and multiplication of quality seeds.
* In 2024-25, Rs. 270.90 crore was allocated under the seed scheme of SMSP (now merged with NFSNM), with Rs. 206.86 crore released to States/UTs, including Rs. 141.46 crore under the Seed Village Programme.
* **Irrigation Support:**
* The "Per Drop More Crop" (PDMC) scheme provides financial assistance for drip and sprinkler irrigation systems (55% for small/marginal farmers, 45% for others).
* Since 2015-16, Rs. 24,789.16 crore has been released, covering 102.56 lakh hectares under micro-irrigation as of 30.06.2025.
* **Disaster Mitigation and Farmer Education:**
* District Agriculture Contingency Plans have been prepared for 651 districts, recommending climate-resilient crops, varieties, and management practices.
* Capacity building for village-level seed banks and community nurseries is underway.
* Training programs are conducted by the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) on agricultural practices, including the use of quality seeds.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
* Impact: Benefit from climate-resilient technologies, seed programs, irrigation support, and education on climate-smart agriculture to enhance resilience to climate variability and extreme weather conditions.
* Action Required: Adopt recommended climate-resilient crops, varieties, and management practices; utilize available financial assistance for irrigation; participate in training programs to enhance knowledge of climate-smart agriculture.
State Governments/Union Territories:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing seed programs and irrigation schemes, utilizing allocated funds to support farmers, and facilitating the adoption of climate-resilient practices.
* Action Required: Effectively utilize allocated funds for seed programs and irrigation schemes; promote the adoption of climate-resilient technologies and practices; collaborate with ICAR and ATMA to implement training programs and disseminate information to farmers.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):
* Impact: Leads research on climate change impact assessment, development of climate-resilient technologies and varieties, and preparation of District Agriculture Contingency Plans.
* Action Required: Continue research on climate change impacts and the development of climate-resilient solutions; disseminate research findings and recommendations to state governments and farmers; support the implementation of climate-resilient practices through NICRA and other initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA): A project implemented by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to study the impact of climate change on agriculture and promote climate-resilient technologies.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): An autonomous organisation responsible for agricultural research and education in India.
Sub Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials (SMSP): A Government of India initiative to promote the production and multiplication of quality seeds of agricultural crops.
Per Drop More Crop (PDMC): A Government of India scheme promoting micro-irrigation technologies like drip and sprinkler systems to enhance water use efficiency in agriculture.
Climate Resilient Villages (CRVs): A concept initiated under NICRA to enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of farmers to climate variability through location-specific climate-resilient technologies.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): The international body for assessing climate change, its reports are used to assess the risk and vulnerability of agriculture to climate change.
Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA): An agency that conducts training programs on various agricultural practices, including the use of quality seeds.
SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR: The Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4160
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19TH AUGUST, 2025
CLIMATE RESILIENT SEEDS AND IRRIGATION
4160. ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS’ WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether agricultural zones are being remapped based on climate resilience, if so, the
details thereof;
(b) the details of schemes in place to support farmers adapting to erratic rainfall;
(c) whether there is funding for climate-resilient seed varieties and irrigation, if so, the details
thereof;
(d) whether district level disaster mitigation plans are being integrated with farming needs;
and
(e) the steps taken to educate farmers on climate-smart agriculture?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)
(a) to (c): Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is implementing a project, National
Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) that studies the impact of climate
change on agriculture including crops, livestock, horticulture and fisheries. It also develops
and promotes climate resilient technologies, which helps the regions prone to extreme
weather conditions like droughts, floods, frost, heat waves, etc. Under NICRA, risk and
vulnerability assessment of agriculture to climate change has been carried out at district-level
for 651 predominantly agricultural districts as per Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) protocols. Out of 310 districts identified as vulnerable, 109 districts have
been categorized as ‘very high’ and 201 districts as ‘highly’ vulnerable. Further to address
the impact of climate change, ICAR has released 2900 varieties during last 10 years (2014-
2024). Out of these 2661 varieties are tolerant to one or more biotic and/or abiotic stresses.
Government of India is implementing Sub Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials
(SMSP) from the year 2014-15 to promote production and multiplication of quality seeds of
agricultural crops to make availability of required quantities of seed to farmers across the
country. During 2024-25, an amount of Rs. 270.90 crore was allocated under the seed
scheme of SMSP (now merged with NFSNM) wherein an amount of Rs. 206.86 crore had
been released to the States/UTs out of which 141.46 crore has been provided under Seed
Village Programme. Government is also implementing Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) in which
financial assistance @ 55% for small and marginal farmers and @ 45% for other farmers for
installation drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. Since 2015–16, the Central Government has
released a total financial assistance of ₹24,789.16 crore, covering an area of 102.56 lakh
hectares under micro-irrigation as on 30.06.2025.(d) & (e): ICAR also has prepared District Agriculture Contingency Plans for these 651
districts to address weather aberrations and recommended location specific climate resilient
crops and varieties and management practices. For enhancing the resilience and adaptive
capacity of farmers to climate variability, the concept of “Climate Resilient Villages” (CRVs)
has been initiated under NICRA. Location-specific climate resilient technologies have been
demonstrated in 448 CRVs of 151 climatically vulnerable districts covering 28 states / UTs
for adoption by farmers. Climate resilient technologies such as system of rice intensification,
aerobic rice, direct seeding of rice, zero till wheat sowing, cultivation of climate resilient
varieties tolerant to extreme weather conditions such as drought and heat; in-situ
incorporation of rice residues; etc. have been developed and demonstrated. Capacity
building for establishing village level seed banks and community nurseries is being
undertaken under NICRA project that enable availability of seeds in the adopted villages.
Drought and flood tolerant climate-resilient varieties of rice, wheat, soybean, mustard,
chickpea, sorghum, gram, and foxtail millet were demonstrated in several NICRA villages.
Besides, training programmes are conducted under Agricultural Technology Management
Agency (ATMA) on various issues of agricultural practices including the awareness of using
quality seeds among the farmers.
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