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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS’ WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4035
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17TH MARCH, 2026
PROMOTING THE CLIMATE RESILIENT AGRICULTURE IN KERALA
4035. SMT. PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA:
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 the Government has assessed the impact of climate changes like shifting
monsoon patterns on farmers and crop yields in Kerala especially in hilly districts like
Wayanad, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has taken any initiatives to promote climate resilient
agriculture in Kerala, if so, the details thereof including the number of farmers targeted,
area covered in hectares, funds allocated for each scheme especially in Wayanad Lok
Sabha constituency;
(c) the details of the financial support provided to small and marginal farmers in Kerala
for climate adaptation under Kerala Climate Resilient Agri-Value Chain Modernization
(KCRA) Project including total amount disbursed, number of beneficiaries and average
assistance per farmer;
(d) whether the Government has assessed if KCRA has improved price realisation and
reduced climate risks for small and marginal farmers; and
(e) whether any assessment of climate risks specific to Kerala such as shifting
monsoons, floods, salinity was conducted and if so, the details of measures planned
to mitigate these risks through agricultural practices?
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 BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)
(a) & (b): The Government, through Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
flagship network project National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA),
has conducted risk and vulnerability assessments for 651 predominantly agricultural
districts using the protocol of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Based on the assessment, 109 districts were categorized as very highly vulnerable
and 201 districts as highly vulnerable to climate change. In Kerala, the districts of
Kasaragod, Kozhikode, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kollam
and Thiruvananthapuram were categorized under very high risk, while Kannur,
Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur were categorized under high risk. The
project is currently operational in one village cluster each in Kannur, Kottayam,
Kozhikode, Palakkad and Wayanad districts for demonstration and adoption of
climate-resilient technologies through Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs). Major climate-
resilient practices demonstrated include vermicomposting, husk burial and coir pithcompost application in coconut, drum seeding and mat nursery in rice, short-duration
paddy varieties, micro-irrigation in coffee, contour trenches in plantations, drainage-
cum-irrigation structures in paddy fields, desilting of irrigation canals, improvement of
percolation ponds, integrated fish farming, tilapia culture in homestead ponds,
improved livestock and poultry shelters and millets as intercrops in coconut gardens.
A total fund of ₹3,12,14,558 was allocated to Kerala under the NICRA Technology
Demonstration Component during this period, of which ₹50,04,000 was allocated to
Wayanad district. During 2021–2026, 7,250 farmers participated in demonstrations
covering 2,477 hectares.
(c) & (d): As reported by the State Government of Kerala, the Kerala Climate Resilient
Agri-Value Chain Modernization (KCRA) Project, with a project outlay of ₹2,365.50
crore, commenced on 02.02.2025. The project includes a comprehensive assessment
on price realisation and the reduction of climate risks for small and marginal farmers.
The project covers 3,00,000 farmers for adoption of climate-resilient technologies in
1,00,000 hectares and about 4,00,000 farmers for enhanced resilience of livelihoods.
(e): Under NICRA, climate risks such as changing monsoon patterns, floods and
salinity were assessed, and adaptive measures were promoted. Farmers were
advised on late transplantation, and after the 2018 Kerala floods, soil testing and Soil
Health Cards were provided to affected farmers. Salinity-tolerant rice varieties have
also been promoted in saline ecosystems such as the traditional Pokkali and Kaipad
systems. During 2014–2025, 79 crop varieties were released and notified for the State
of Kerala, including several climate-resilient varieties tolerant to drought/moisture
stress, floods/submergence, heat stress and salinity, which support climate adaptation
and enhance resilience of agricultural production systems.
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