Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addresses a parliamentary question regarding actions taken to mitigate the impact of global warming and climate change on farmers in the northern plains, especially flood-affected areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh, over the past five years and the current year. The government outlines various schemes and programs implemented across sectors like water, agriculture, and forestry, emphasizing adaptation and mitigation strategies. These initiatives include the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and its constituent missions, along with state-specific action plans.
Key Points / Main Content:
National Initiatives:
* The Government of India is implementing the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), comprising missions in solar energy, energy efficiency, water, agriculture, Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat, green India, human health, and strategic knowledge on climate change.
* The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) aims to enhance the agriculture sector's resilience to climate change through various schemes.
* The 'Per Drop More Crop' (PDMC) scheme, initiated in 2015-16, aims to enhance water use efficiency through micro-irrigation technologies.
* The Rainfed Area Development (RAD) scheme, implemented since 2014-15, focuses on Integrated Farming Systems to boost productivity and minimize climate-related risks.
* The Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme, managed by State Governments, promotes Integrated Nutrient Management for improved soil health and productivity.
State-Level Actions (Uttar Pradesh):
* The State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC) for Uttar Pradesh identifies five strategies to address climate change impacts in the Agriculture and Allied Sector.
* A Centre of Excellence (CoE) at Banaras Hindu University provides climate services, including early warnings for heat/cold waves and heavy rainfall, and crop-specific advisories in collaboration with various agencies.
* The National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project studies climate change impacts on agriculture and promotes climate-resilient technologies; 17 vulnerable districts in Uttar Pradesh were selected for technology adoption through NICRA.
Promoting Sustainable Practices:
* The government promotes organic farming through schemes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and the National Bamboo Mission.
* Risk and vulnerability assessments were performed for agriculture districts, categorizing 109 as very high and 201 as highly vulnerable.
* Climate-resilient technologies such as system of rice intensification, zero-till wheat sowing, and climate-resilient crop varieties have been developed and demonstrated to farmers.
Flood Management:
* The Government of India provides technical guidance and financial assistance to States for flood management in critical areas.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers of Northern Plains, especially in flood-affected areas of Eastern Uttar Pradesh
Impact: Farmers are directly impacted by the schemes and advisories which aim to reduce the negative impact of climate change, improve productivity, and increase resilience to extreme weather conditions. Districts are categorised by vulnerability.
Action Required: Farmers should adopt the recommended climate-resilient technologies, utilize soil health cards, and heed weather advisories to optimize their farming practices.
State Governments (Especially Uttar Pradesh):
Impact: State governments are responsible for implementing the schemes, developing state-specific action plans, and disseminating information to farmers.
Action Required: States should effectively implement the various schemes, promote climate-resilient technologies, and ensure the accurate dissemination of weather advisories to farmers.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:
Impact: The Ministry is responsible for overseeing the implementation of national policies and schemes related to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Action Required: The Ministry must continue to monitor the effectiveness of the implemented schemes, provide guidance to state governments, and address any gaps in the current strategies.
Key Entities Referenced
National Action Plan on Climate Change: A comprehensive plan implemented by the Government of India comprising missions in specific areas like solar energy, water, and agriculture to combat climate change.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: A mission under the National Action Plan on Climate Change that aims to make the agriculture sector more resilient to the changing climate.
Per Drop More Crop: A scheme launched in 2015-16 to increase water use efficiency at the farm level through micro-irrigation technologies.
Rainfed Area Development: A scheme implemented from 2014-15 focusing on Integrated Farming System for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variability.
Soil Health Card: A scheme providing farmers with information on the nutrient status of their soil and recommendations for improving soil health and fertility.
State Action Plans on Climate Change: Plans prepared by States and Union Territories to address state-specific issues relevant to climate change, including Uttar Pradesh.
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: Location of a Centre of Excellence established by the Department of Science and Technology under the National Mission for Strategic Knowledge on Climate Change.
National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture: A network project that studies the impact of climate change on agriculture and promotes climate-resilient technologies.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 6
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025
Impact of Global Warming and Climate Change
6. SHRI RAJEEV RAI:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has taken any major steps towards mitigation of adverse
impact of global warming and climate change with respect to farmers of northern plains
in the country, especially in the flood affected areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh during the
last five years and the current year; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) and (b) The Government of India stands committed to combating climate change and has
launched many schemes and programs to scale up India’s action on both, the adaptation and
mitigation. Appropriate measures are being taken under these schemes and programs across
many sectors including water, agriculture, forest, energy and enterprise, sustainability mobility
and housing, waste management, circular economy, and resource efficiency, etc.
The Government is implementing the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC),
which comprises missions in specific areas of solar energy, energy efficiency, water,
agriculture, Himalayan eco-system, sustainable habitat, green India, human health, and
strategic knowledge on climate change. The respective nodal Ministries implement these,
Missions. One of the Missions, the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA),
aims to make the agriculture sector more resilient to the changing climate.
Considering the challenge posed by climate change in agriculture, several schemes have been
initiated under NMSA to deal with the adverse climatic situations. Per Drop More Crop
(PDMC) scheme was launched during 2015-16 to increase water use efficiency at the farm
level through Micro Irrigation technologies i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation systems. Rainfed
Area Development (RAD) scheme implemented from 2014-15 in the country focuses on
Integrated Farming System for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with
climatic variability. The Soil Health Card (SHC) / Soil Health Management (SHM) scheme is
operational through the State Governments under National Project on Management of Soil
Health & Fertility. The main objective of the scheme is to assist States in promoting Integrated
Nutrient Management through judicious use of chemical fertilizers including secondary and
micronutrients in conjunction with organic manures & bio-fertilizers for improving soil healthand its productivity. Soil Health Card provides information to farmers on soil nutrient status of
their soil and recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving
soil health and its fertility.
The Government of India has supported preparation of State Action Plans on Climate Change
(SAPCC) in the States and Union Territories including the State of Uttar Pradesh (UP) to
address state specific issues relevant to the climate change. The SAPCC for the State of UP has
identified five strategies to deal with impacts of climate change in Agriculture and Allied
Sector.
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has established a Centre of Excellence
(CoE) at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi under National Mission for Strategic Knowledge
on Climate Change (NMSKCC), which is mandated to provide climate services to society
through Early Warning System. This DST-CoE issues need-based heat and cold wave, and
heavy rainfall warnings. Additionally, it also issues location and crop-specific weather-based
advisories for the benefit of the farming community of Uttar Pradesh in collaboration with
India Meteorological Department, Indian Space Research Organisation and the Ministry of
Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. Different media platforms like print/ visual/SMS/ Radio/IT-
based media and Interactive Voice Response Service are being used for these advisories which
facilitate large number of farmers for appropriate field-level actions.
The Government is also implementing a network project, namely National Innovations in
Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), which aims to study the impact of climate change on
agriculture, including crops, and promote climate resilient technologies to cope with weather
extremes. In Uttar Pradesh, one village cluster from each of 17 vulnerable districts viz.,
Baghpat, Bahraich, Banda, Basti, Chitrakoot, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Jhansi,
Kanpur (Dehat), Kaushambi, Kushi Nagar, Maharajganj, Pratapgarh, Sant Ravidas Nagar and
Sonbhadra were selected for technology adoption through NICRA.
In addition, the Government is promoting organic farming in the country since 2015-16 through
the schemes of Paramparagat KrishiVikasYojana (PKVY). The yojana also aims to promote
traditional indigenous practices and to create awareness of farmers. Mission for Integrated
Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Agroforestry & National Bamboo Mission also aim to
increase climate resilience in agriculture. The Risk and vulnerability assessment was
performed for predominantly agriculture districts. A total of 109 districts are categorized as
very high and 201 districts as highly vulnerable.
Promising climate resilient technologies have been demonstrated to the farmers, which can be
upscaled in convergence with various developmental programs in the State. Some of the
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; micro irrigation systems; laser land levelling; improved shelter for
livestock to minimize heat stress; integrated farming systems including poultry; have been
developed and demonstrated to large number of farmers. Capacity building programs to
farmers on climate resilient agriculture in these districts were also undertaken.
The Government is committed to supplements efforts of States by providing technical guidance
and promotional financial assistance for management of floods in critical areas.
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